Search Results: blacker the berry by thurman

New York: Macaulay, 1929. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition. Octavo. 262pp. Brown cloth with title stamped in black. Professionally recased and rebacked, preserving most of the original spine, the corners neatly refurbished, and the hinges seamlessly tightened, thus a presentable very good copy, lacking the dust jacket; housed in a lightly worn custom clamshell case. A very nice presentation copy, Inscribed by Thurman to silent film actor and director James Cruze: "To James Cruze - In anticipation of another story being especially written for submission to him. Sincerely, Wallace Thurman." Both Thurman and Cruze were from Utah, outsiders in their communities. In *Down in the Dumps: Place, Modernity, American Depression*, Thurman is quoted as writing to playwright and producer William Jourdan Rapp in June, 1929: "Met James Cruze, who is quite anxious to see a script of Harlem... [Cruze] has long wanted to do a first class colored movie and showed me countless stories he has considered. He wants to… Read More

New York: Macaulay Company, 1929. First edition. Hardcover. Good +. 262pp. Octavo [19.5 cm] Brown cloth with title stamped in black on the front board and backstrip. There is a small open tear to the cloth along the front joint, and the underlying boards are just beginning to peek through at the bottom fore-edge corner of the front board. The front hinge is a little weak, and the text block is cracked a few times. There is a previous owner's inscription on the front free endpaper. Thurman's first published novel offers a frank portrayal of prejudice within the black community, and was divisive among the public and critics alike. Thurman was already fairly well known within the "Harlem Renaissance," but the publication of this work would announce his talents to a wider audience, and would help to cement his reputation as a writer who would take on unpopular (and sometimes uncomfortable) subjects.

The Macaulay Company, 1929. First edition, first printing. Small inked name, front flap of dust jacket adhered to front pastedown, small discoloration and some soft creases to spine, publisher's name lower spine rubbed out, very good to near fine with hinges firm, in custom mylar cover.. Brown cloth titled in black, no dust jacket in mylar cover.

New York: The Library of America, 2011. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 867pp; Blue cloth boards with gilt titling to spine, ribbon bookmark, decorated endpapers, boards square, clean & bright, text unmarked, binding is tight, VG condition. Five novels from the 1920s Harlem Renaissance. Includes: Cane by Jean Toomer; Home to Harlem by Claude McKay; Quicksand by Nella Larsen; Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset; The Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman. Library of America No. 217.