[Rarebooks] FS: James Agee's copy of ELMER GANTRY

[Charles Agvent]

[AGEE, James] LEWIS, Sinclair. ELMER GANTRY [James Agee's copy at 
Phillips Exeter Academy dated March 1927]. New York: Harcourt, Brace and 
Company, (1927). A later printing, ex-library copy with the bookplate of 
The Phillips Exeter Academy library on the front pastedown, stamped 
DISCARDED, of a book made into a film starring Burt Lancaster that won 
three Academy Awards. An undistinguished copy BUT for the fact that it 
belonged to James Agee with his SIGNATURE "J R Agee" dated March 1927 on 
the front free endpaper. This copy later belonged to Henry Darcy Curwen, 
of the Exeter English faculty, who signed his name below Agee's. In 
March 1927, Agee, at age 17, was in his "upper-middle" year (junior) at 
Exeter, an admirer of Sinclair Lewis, and already committed to a 
literary career, submitting poems and stories to the Phillips Exeter 
Monthly. In one of his early letters to Father Flye (LETTERS OF JAMES 
AGEE TO FATHER FLYE, pages 27-28) dated Exeter 17 March 1927, Agee 
writes: "I've bought and read Elmer Gantry, the Lewis satire on 
religion. It's very disappointing, although excellent in spots. He's 
turning rancid." Reflecting his own psychological unease at the time, 
Agee soon expands this somewhat in one of his earliest published 
critical articles, a review of ELMER GANTRY in the Phillips Exeter 
Monthly 31 (May 1927): "It is one gigantic crescendo of walloping 
filthiness, and I have the feeling that it carried Mr. Lewis before it, 
and left him stranded where not even himself can work his salvation." 
Early signed Agee material is uncommon, and the important resonance of 
this copy with his beginning literary efforts can hardly be exaggerated. 
Good copy, lacking the dustwrapper. An Agee rarity!	$2,000.00

-- 
All items subject to prior sale. Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed. Postage additional: $10.00 for the first book; $5.00 each 
thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, American Express and 
Discover accepted. Books may be returned within 10 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value. We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and the world's largest 
inventory of Limited Editions Club books. We are celebrating our 22nd 
year of business and are proud to be members of the Antiquarian 
Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and the International League 
of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). Please feel free to contact us with 
any wants or offerings. Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA 19539-8750
610-682-4750
info at charlesagvent.com
Please visit our shop: http://www.charlesagvent.com