CAIN, James M.. Serenade. (1937 - FIRST EDITION - PRESENTATION COPY)

AUTHOR: CAIN, James M. 

TITLE: Serenade.

PUBLISHER: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1937.

DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION PRESENTATION COPY. 1 vol., inscribed on the front blank endleaf “To Dora Einzig with love and kisses James M. Cain July 15, 1938", publisher’s original black cloth decorated in silver, original dust jacket.

CONDITION: Minor damp stain to foot of spine not affecting the textblock, head of spine rubbed with some minor loss, fragile DJ with some modest wear, overall GOOD/GOOD.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: First edition of Cain's bold second novel, book and striking dust jacket designed by W. A. Dwiggins. Exploring many of the same themes as his acclaimed first novel The Postman Always Rings Twice (1934), this novel was "daring for its period in its presentation of a bisexual hero" (Encyclopedia of Literature, 196). Cain would recall, "This story goes back to my try-to-be-a-singer days... It cooked until 1937, when I went to Mexico and got it over with" (University of Maryland, Cain Collection). "A complex and bravura blend of exotica, opera and murder... Serenade was well-reviewed and remains widely admired. Some people consider it Cain's best book" (Smiley & Bell, 41). Influential book artist William Addison Dwiggins designed both the volume and its dust jacket, which on this copy is printed with red as the dominant color; no priority established. "Only rarely was Dwiggins involved with dust wrappers, and this was one of his best efforts" (Smiley & Bell, 41).