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FAULKNER, William.
The Marble Faun.
First edition, first printing of the author's rare first book, the dedication copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Dad and Mother Xmas 1924 William Faulkner". The printed dedication reads "To My Mother". Faulkner's family life could be characterised as difficult at best. His biographer, Frederick Karl, describes Faulkner's relationship with his father as "complex, hostile, reconciliatory, and lacking in mutual understanding", even though the son made "an effort to meet Murray on his own ground, which was the family institution of heavy drinking". In nearly all things, Faulkner sided with his mother, preferring her sense of culture and discipline. Karl, though, notes the high stakes of his relationship with his mother: "As the son upon whom Maud doted, the eldest and potentially the most talented, Faulkner had to live up to her high expectations. This was a mother whose power over the son preempted the hold of the father… Maud Faulkner's intense devotion to her son – and their similarities in size and tastes – made it difficult or impossible for Faulkner to separate himself from her. What she expected of him was what he must become" (Frederick R. Karl, William Faulkner: American Writer, London, 1989, p.19). The Boston publishers Four Seas had an impressive backlist, including Gertrude Stein, William Carlos Williams, Conrad Aiken, H.D., Mencken, and the Yale poet Stephen Vincent Benét, but they operated as a vanity press and required Faulkner to finance publication himself. Faulkner took a year to decide to risk his own (or rather mostly Phil Stone's) money, and the book of poems was eventually published about 9 December 1924, in an edition of 500 copies. The book sold poorly and was quickly remaindered. No records survive detailing numbers sold before the book was remaindered, but an early estimate suggested 100 copies only. William Boozer, in William Faulkner's First Book: The Marble Faun (Memphis, 1975), specifically located 56 copies. He considered the existence of other floating copies for a total of near 70, and has since found more, but his total is still short of the 100 copies initially assumed.
Octavo. Original green boards, printed paper label to upper board. Housed in a green cloth drop down box. Contents somewhat toned, pastedowns bubbled, backstrip defective, boards lightly tanned.
