The time is 1947. Sophie, a Polish Catholic beauty who survived Auschwitz, has settled in America. Stingo, a 22 year-old aspiring writer from Virginia, is drawn to Sophie and Nathan--a madly romantic couple whose instability and flamboyance utterly capture his imagination. The deeper Stingo sinks into these people's lives, the more he learns that each harbors terrible secrets.
"A limited edition of this book has been privately printed"--Title page verso. "Of the first [trade] edition ... five hundred copies have been specially bound. These books are signed by the author, and numbered 1 to 500"--Extra leaf at front. Issued in navy blue cloth boards with slipcase. Some copies of the first trade edition issued in light blue cloth with extra leaf at front stating: "This special edition has been prepared for presentation to the friends of the author and publisher." Rare Books copy 1: "First Trade Edition" (1st printing--complete number line (9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2) on copyright page); in dust jacket. Rare Books copies 2-3: "First Trade Edition" (1st printing--complete number line (9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2) on copyright page); specially bound issue in navy blue cloth boards, with extra leaf signed by author and numbered; issued without dust jacket in plain paper slipcase. Rare Books copy 2 is number "171"; Rare Books copy 3 is number "240". Rare Books copy 4-5: "First Trade Edition" (1st printing--complete number line (9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2) on copyright page); special complimentary issue (with extra leaf) "for presentation to the friends of the author and publisher"; in light blue cloth boards and plain tissue jacket. Rare Books copy 5 misbound without extra leaf; inscribed by Styron: "To Jim West: This special complimentary edition is especially valuable and of scholarly interest because it came without the first printed signature page with the publisher's message. I saved it for you. Regards as always, B.S." Rare Books copies 6-7: "First Trade Edition" (1st printing--complete number line (9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2) on copyright page); in dust jacket. Bibliographer's copies. Rare Books copy 8: "First Trade Edition" (5th printing--number line (9 8 7 6 5 ) on copyright page); without dust jacket. Bibliographer's copy. Rare Books copy 9: "First Trade Edition" (6th printing--number line (9 8 7 6 ) on copyright page); in dust jacket. Bibliographer's copy; with annotations in pencil on rear free endpaper. Rare Books copy 10: (Later unidentified printing -- no edition statement and no number line on copyright page); in dust jacket. Bibliographer's copy.
Source of Acquisition
Rare Books copies 3-10 : Gift of James L. W. West III; 2014.
