MASTERWORK OF IRISH REALISM

Hanley, James (1901–1985)

An End and a Beginning [Furys Saga]

New York: Horizon Press, 1958. First American Edition.
The powerful conclusion to James Hanley’s acclaimed Furys Saga.
 
This volume marks the fifth and final installment of the epic chronicling the struggles and spiritual upheavals of the Fury family. Hanley, an Irish-born novelist frequently praised by titans like E.M. Forster and Anthony Burgess for his raw, unflinching psychological realism, here brings the narrative arc to its definitive close. 

KEY FEATURES
+++ Series Status: The fifth and final book of the monumental Furys Saga. 
+++ Imprint: Horizon Press, New York, 1958. 
+++ Edition Statement: First American Edition, First Printing. 
+++ Specs: Octavo; 8 inches tall; [1-6] 7-315 [advert]  pages. 
+++ Literary Context: A cornerstone of mid-century working-class literature and Irish-diaspora fiction.

CONDITION: Fine in a Near Fine Jacket.
+++ The Book: An unread copy with no flaws or blemishes. The bindings are exceptionally tight, square, and sharp-cornered. The internal text block is clean and bright.
+++ The Jacket: The original pictorial dust jacket remains crisp and presentable, showing only minor hand soiling consistent with its age. Now preserved in a clear, archival Mylar protective sleeve.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
James Hanley was a writer’s writer, famously described by Henry Miller as a giant of 20th-century literature. His Furys Saga remains one of the most significant explorations of the Irish working-class experience in Liverpool and beyond.

The publication of this finale in 1958 by Horizon Press highlights the publisher’s commitment to bringing significant, often difficult, European literary voices to American readers.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Psychological Realism: Represents Hanley's late-career shift toward a more internalized, lyrical prose style while maintaining his signature gritty social observation.
+++ Bibliographical Milestone: The Horizon Press edition is the primary state for American collectors of Hanley’s work, which was often subject to censorship or limited distribution in earlier decades.
+++ Thematic Closure: Resolves the multi-generational tensions established in the earlier volumes (The Furys, The Secret Journey, etc.), making it a necessary acquisition for completing the cycle.

SUBJECTS: Irish Literature, Working-Class Fiction, 20th Century Novels, The Furys Saga, Horizon Press, Modern First Editions, Literary Fiction.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE: Gibbs,A41b.

Item #21925

Price: $45.00