(NY), Delacorte, (1969). His masterwork, a powerful fictional memoir of his experiences during the Allied fire-bombing of Dresden, Germany. Vonnegut's philosophical reflections on the tragic absurdity of humankind are embedded in an impressionistic, pessimistic yet comic science fiction tale that is a high spot of the literature of the 1960s and since. The first printing was 10,000 copies and the book eventually sold more than 60,000 copies in hardcover and innumerable in paperback, becoming a classic of its era and a standard on college campuses -- at first by word-of-mouth and later as part of the canon. On all three major lists of the top books of the 20th century. This copy is signed by Vonnegut, with a self-caricature, and dated on his 79th birthday. A little splaying and foxing to boards; small foredge stain; very good in a near fine, evenly tanned dust jacket with an edge tear to the front flap fold. In a very attractive custom clamshell case with leather spine label and marbled paper pastedowns.   [#027139] $4,500

All books are first printings of first editions or first American editions unless otherwise noted.

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