East of Eden by STEINBECK, John - 1952

New York: The Viking Press, 1952. Full Description:

STEINBECK, John. East of Eden. New York: The Viking Press, 1952.

First edition, limited to 1,500 numbered copies signed by Steinbeck. Octavo ( 8 7/8 x 6 inches; 227 x 153 mm). [vi]; [1-2] 3-602 pp.

Original full green buckram. Front cover lettered in gilt, spine stamped in brick-red and lettered in gilt. All edges stained red. About fine. Housed in publisher's original slipcase. Slipcase with some rubbing and wear. In publisher's original mylar. Overall a near fine copy.

East of Eden is often considered Steinbeck's most ambitious novel, and the novel Steinbeck himself considered his greatest. "Based on the biblical story of Cain and Abel, the book centers on the lives of Adam Trask and his two sons, Cal and Aron. Adam settles in the Salinas Valley in California with his wife Cathy, who bears the two boys, leaves her husband, and becomes a prostitute. Adam, who favors Aron, is at first unable to forgive Cal when he drives Aron to his death by telling him their mother is a prostitute." (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia, 303). This novel was made into a film in 1955, directed by Elia Kazan and starred James Dean.

Goldstone & Payne A32a.

HBS 69020.

$5,000.