Scarce with the wrapper
Lewis, Sinclair ~ It Can’t Happen Here
Jonathan Cape, London : 1935
The First UK printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1935. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with the publisher's original cloth with blue titling. Light pushing at the spine ends with some light toning and spotting to the text-block. The latter has lightly encroached onto the extreme page edges in a few places. The occasional light spot to just a few pages. Free from inscriptions. The 8 page publisher's book catalogue is present. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good condition. It bears the correct price of '7s 6d. net' to the lower front flap. Some edge-wear with losses to the spine ends and the corners. Some small closed tears, nicks and light creasing to the edges. The spine and edges are toned with some age related markings and spotting in places. The wrapper presents well in the removable Brodart archival cover. The blurb from the front flap of the wrapper states : 'The subject is the possibility of dictatorship in the United States, and the novel shows how in 1936 a President made himself dictator, and what were the effects of a Fascist regime in democratic America... the book champions the cause of liberal democracies.' The Publisher's note state that '...it was originally intended to be titled, 'It Can't Happen in America'. In 1930, Sinclair Lewis became the first author from the United States (and the first from the Americas) to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was awarded 'for his vigorous and graphic art of description and his ability to create, with wit and humour, new types of characters.' Lewis wrote six popular novels: 'Main Street' (1920), 'Babbitt' (1922), 'Arrowsmith' (1925), 'Elmer Gantry' (1927), 'Dodsworth' (1929), and 'It Can't Happen Here' (1935). This title has become increasingly seen as prophetic. Very scarce with the wrapper - Only the second copy we have handled.
BINDING: Hardcover
CONDITION: Very Good++
JACKET: Very Good
£550