Description
The first edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder, published in London in 1927, in the publisher’s dust jacket.
Octavo, vii, [140pp, [2]. Blue cloth, title stamped in gilt on spine. The first impression, with no other printings noted on copyright page. Offsetting and light foxing to endpapers. Bookplate affixed to front pastedown. Light toning to cloth spine, touch of soiling along top of text block. In the publisher’s dust jacket, “6/-net” price on front flap, chipping to spine, closed tear to top edge of rear panel, a very good example. (Bruccoli & Clark III, 363)
The English edition of The Bridge of San Luis Rey preceded the first American edition by a few days. The true first impression (only 21 copies) has a title page printed in all black and is rarely seen on the market. Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) was an American playwright and novelist renowned for exploring universal themes of human connection and resilience. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for drama with Our Town (1938) and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942), and one for fiction with The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927). His work often delves into existential questions, blending realism with philosophical reflection. Wilder also wrote novels like The Cabala (1926) and The Ides of March (1948), alongside numerous plays. His works remain celebrated for their innovative narrative techniques and timeless exploration of the human condition.
