SOUTHERN GOTHIC AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Percy, Walker (1916–1990)

Love in the Ruins [Signed First Edition] [Dystopian Satire] [Bad Catholic Adventures]

New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1971. Book Club Edition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.
A PROPHETIC AND DARKLY COMIC MASTERPIECE OF MODERN SPECULATIVE FICTION.
Published in 1971, Walker Percy’s third novel follows the misadventures of Dr. Thomas More—a 'Bad Catholic' and psychiatrist—in a near-future Louisiana teetering on the edge of total social and spiritual collapse. This first edition, featuring the quintessential black cloth and gilt design, is hand-signed by the author on an attached bookplate, standing as a 'Total Work of Art' for collectors of Southern literature and dystopian classics.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Signature: Hand-signed by Walker Percy with a warm inscription and Above his name on the title page.
+++ Genre Hybrid: A foundational work that successfully blends Southern Gothic, Dystopian Science Fiction, and Catholic Existentialism.
+++ Imprint: New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1971. Book Club Edition/BCE
+++ Visuals: Iconic Janet Halverson-designed dust jacket with vibrant typography against a crisp white background.
+++ Design: Features the publisher’s original black cloth with bright gilt spine lettering and the distinctive burnt-yellow topstain.
+++ Specs: 8.5 inches tall / [vi], 403 pages.

CONDITION: Near Fine in a Very Good Dust Jacket -- The bindings are tight and square; the black cloth is clean with only minimal evidence of shelf handling. The text is bright and free of markings. The dust jacket is unclipped ($7.95) and presents very well, though it shows mild, even age-toning typical of this edition's paper stock.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Following the National Book Award success of 'The Moviegoer,' Walker Percy pivoted toward a more expansive, satirical vision of America’s future. 'Love in the Ruins' is often cited as his most ambitious work, predicting a nation divided by extreme polarization and the alienation of technology. Through the invention of the 'Lapsometer'—a device to measure the soul's sickness—Percy explores the intersection of science and faith with a wit that has only become more relevant with time.

As a 'Southern Catholic' writer, Percy occupies a unique space in 20th-century letters, often compared to Flannery O'Connor for his focus on the 'grotesque' and the search for grace in a ruined world. This 1971 first printing is a cornerstone of American letters, marking the moment when Percy moved from a local Southern voice to a major commentator on the American 'End of the World' psyche.

SUBJECTS: Dystopian Fiction, Southern Literature, Catholic Existentialism, Satire, Louisiana History, 1970s Literature, Science Fiction.

Item #21599

Price: $165.00