NY, Knopf, 1974. His first play ("meant to be read"), about President James Buchanan. Inscribed by Updike: For Cyril Wismar/ who might enjoy the theological discussion on pp. 160 ff. keeping in mind Buchanan was never a Lutheran but a Scots Calvinist/ Warm regards/ John U." Wismar and Updike met in 1970 when Wismar became pastor of the Clifton Lutheran Church of Marblehead, Massachusetts, which Updike had joined with his family in the late 1950s. A half dozen instances of underlining in as many pages in the mentioned section, presumably by Wismar, and beginning with "explain to me what an experience of religion is." Foxing to foredge, thus a near fine copy in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket. A good inscription, and apparently an example of the book itself being part of an ongoing dialogue the two had been having over the first several years of their friendship. [#029418] SOLD