The Sot-Weed Factor -
John Barth
1960 - Doubleday, Garden City - First Edition
First edition of John Barth's satirical epic set in the 1680s–90s in London and colonial Maryland, cementing his reputation as one of the leading experimental writers of his generation. Accompanied by two examples of the scarce and delicate dust jacket, suitably designed by Edward Gorey.
The main character - Ebenezer Cooke - was considered by Time to be ‘one of the most diverting... to roam the world since Candide’.
The Sot-Weed Factor ‘recounts the widely chaotic odyssey of hapless, ungainly Ebenezer Cooke, sent to the New World to look after his father’s tobacco business and to record the struggles of the Maryland colony in an epic poem. On his mission, Cooke experiences capture by pirates and Indians; the loss of his father’s estate to roguish impostors; love for a former prostitute; stealthy efforts to rob him of his virginity, which he is (almost) determined to protect; and an extraordinary gallery of treacherous characters who continually switch identities. “ [Atlantic] References: TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels, 1923 -2005.
Large octavo (book size 24.1x16.3cm), pp. [2] 806 [8]. In publisher’s yellow cloth over blue cloth, spine lettered in light blue, all edges trimmed. With two dust jackets, one priced ‘T.S.W.F. $7.50’ to upper corner of front flap, the other with price partially erased. Condition: Near fine, inner hinges starting, slight bumping to corners, in two dust jackets, one near fine, some rubbing to edges and corners with price partially erased on front flap, the other about very good, toning to spine, folds with wear, more so to rear fold which is partially split, small chips to spine and top edge. Ref: 112145 Price: HK$ 6,000
The main character - Ebenezer Cooke - was considered by Time to be ‘one of the most diverting... to roam the world since Candide’.
The Sot-Weed Factor ‘recounts the widely chaotic odyssey of hapless, ungainly Ebenezer Cooke, sent to the New World to look after his father’s tobacco business and to record the struggles of the Maryland colony in an epic poem. On his mission, Cooke experiences capture by pirates and Indians; the loss of his father’s estate to roguish impostors; love for a former prostitute; stealthy efforts to rob him of his virginity, which he is (almost) determined to protect; and an extraordinary gallery of treacherous characters who continually switch identities. “ [Atlantic] References: TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels, 1923 -2005.
Large octavo (book size 24.1x16.3cm), pp. [2] 806 [8]. In publisher’s yellow cloth over blue cloth, spine lettered in light blue, all edges trimmed. With two dust jackets, one priced ‘T.S.W.F. $7.50’ to upper corner of front flap, the other with price partially erased. Condition: Near fine, inner hinges starting, slight bumping to corners, in two dust jackets, one near fine, some rubbing to edges and corners with price partially erased on front flap, the other about very good, toning to spine, folds with wear, more so to rear fold which is partially split, small chips to spine and top edge. Ref: 112145 Price: HK$ 6,000