The Song of the Lark -
Willa Sibert Cather
1915 - Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston - First Edition, Second Issue
A fine first edition of WIlla Cather’s third novel. Lovingly enconced in a contemporary morocco slipcase and chemise.
Perhaps Willa Cather's most autobiographical work, The Song of the Lark charts the story of a young woman's awakening as an artist against the backdrop of the western landscape. Thea Kronborg, an aspiring singer, struggles to escape from the confines her small Colorado town to the world of possibility in the Metropolitan Opera House. In classic Cather style, The Song of the Lark is the beautiful, unforgettable story of American determination and its inextricable connection to the land. Originally from Virginia, Cather studied at the university of Nebraska, later moving to New York to take up a position as editor of McClure’s Magazine. She was the author of more than a dozen novels and collections of short stories, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1922.
‘Sixty-six years after her death, Cather has become, once again, after a period in the doldrums, a central figure in the American literary pantheon.’ - Hermione Lee, The New York Review of Books, July 2013.
First edition, with ‘Published October 1915’ to copyright page and no further printings mentioned; second issue with three titles mentioned in bordered box on page opposite the half-title; and ‘moment’ corrected to “moments” on the third line from the bottom, page 8.
Provenance: With what appears to be a contemporary gift inscription stating “Merry Christmas, Here’s hoping you enjoy this, unfortunately I haven’t read it but I’ve been too accursedly busy for anything.’”
Thick octavo (book size 19.4x13.4cm), pp. 490 [4]. In publisher’s blue ribbed cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, upper board with gilt lettering and decoration enclosed in thick gilt border, all edges trimmed. Enclosed in a bespoke slipcase of quarter brown crushed morocco over lighter brown cloth boards, spine with raised bands lettered decorated and ruled in gilt, matching cloth chemise with silk pull. Condition: Fine in near fine cloth, small mark to upper board, spine slightly dulled, in near fine slipcase and chemise. Ref: 112673 Price: HK$ 3,000
Perhaps Willa Cather's most autobiographical work, The Song of the Lark charts the story of a young woman's awakening as an artist against the backdrop of the western landscape. Thea Kronborg, an aspiring singer, struggles to escape from the confines her small Colorado town to the world of possibility in the Metropolitan Opera House. In classic Cather style, The Song of the Lark is the beautiful, unforgettable story of American determination and its inextricable connection to the land. Originally from Virginia, Cather studied at the university of Nebraska, later moving to New York to take up a position as editor of McClure’s Magazine. She was the author of more than a dozen novels and collections of short stories, and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1922.
‘Sixty-six years after her death, Cather has become, once again, after a period in the doldrums, a central figure in the American literary pantheon.’ - Hermione Lee, The New York Review of Books, July 2013.
First edition, with ‘Published October 1915’ to copyright page and no further printings mentioned; second issue with three titles mentioned in bordered box on page opposite the half-title; and ‘moment’ corrected to “moments” on the third line from the bottom, page 8.
Provenance: With what appears to be a contemporary gift inscription stating “Merry Christmas, Here’s hoping you enjoy this, unfortunately I haven’t read it but I’ve been too accursedly busy for anything.’”
Thick octavo (book size 19.4x13.4cm), pp. 490 [4]. In publisher’s blue ribbed cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt, upper board with gilt lettering and decoration enclosed in thick gilt border, all edges trimmed. Enclosed in a bespoke slipcase of quarter brown crushed morocco over lighter brown cloth boards, spine with raised bands lettered decorated and ruled in gilt, matching cloth chemise with silk pull. Condition: Fine in near fine cloth, small mark to upper board, spine slightly dulled, in near fine slipcase and chemise. Ref: 112673 Price: HK$ 3,000