Schwamm, Ellen (b. 1934)

How He Saved Her How He Saved Her [Association Copy: Inscribed to Publisher Ben Raeburn]

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983.

The second novel by Ellen Schwamm, following her critically acclaimed debut 'Adjacent Lives'. This work explores the intricacies of mid-century marriage, identity, and the quiet revolutions of the domestic sphere. 

This copy is a significant Association Copy, warmly inscribed by the author to Ben Raeburn, the legendary publisher of Horizon Press and a central figure in the New York literary and architectural scene (most notably as the publisher of Frank Lloyd Wright).

KEY FEATURES
+++ Content: A 'smart, agile' second novel focusing on the emotional and psychological shifts within a sophisticated urban marriage. 
+++ Associated Names: Inscribed by the author to Ben Raeburn, whose Horizon Press was a pillar of mid-century independent publishing. 
+++ Binding: Tight and square; original quarter-cloth over boards with minimal shelf handling. 
+++ Imprint: A hallmark Knopf production from the era of legendary art director Betty Anderson.
 +++ Rarity: While trade copies are common, copies with direct associations to the inner circle of New York publishing houses like Horizon Press are uncommon. 

CONDITION: Near Fine/Very Good -- No Flaws or Blemishes but minimal shelf handling; The binding is tight and square with no noted flaws to the cloth. Internally clean, with some minor offsetting to the rear pastedowns from a previously laid-in newspaper clipping (now removed). The dust jacket is near fine, retaining the original $13.95 price; shows only minimal shelf wear.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE -- 
Ellen Schwamm was a rising star of the 'Knopf stable' in the late 70s and early 80s, noted for her intellectual agility and her place within the elite New York literary social circle. Much of the contemporary 'hook' for Schwamm today stems from her marriage to the famously difficult and brilliant novelist Harold Brodkey. Schwamm was not only his wife but his essential editor and archivist, credited with helping him finally complete his massive work 'The Runaway Soul'.

The connection to Ben Raeburn adds a distinct layer of professional provenance. Raeburn was a 'publisher's publisher', and an inscription to him suggests Schwamm's status within the tight-knit network of New York literati who valued craft over commercialism. For collectors of the 'Horizon Press' orbit or those interested in the social history of 20th-century American publishing, this is a prime artifact.

SUBJECTS: Ellen Schwamm, Ben Raeburn, Harold Brodkey, New York Literary Scene, Horizon Press, 20th Century Fiction, Marriage & Adultery in Literature, Modern First Edition, Association Copy, Literary Fiction.

Item #21542
ISBN: 0394527070

Price: $35.00