Cockpit

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1975 First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed by Kosinski on front flyleaf: "For Jonathan Dodd / with much thought, / Jerzy Kosinski / October 18th, 1977." With an original drawing by Kosinski featuring a self-caricature to top of page. Publisher's black cloth, with front board and spine lettered in gilt and silver foil; in its original white dust jacket, with a painting by Jan Lebenstein to front panel, lettered in black, and a photo of Kosinski by Scientia to rear panel. Near fine book, with light toning to spine ends, a very light mark to front board, and a small spot of soiling to rear board; about fine unclipped dust jacket, with a couple of light scratches to spine, and a bit of creasing to head of spine. Overall, a bright copy. Cockpit follows the exploits of Tarden, a former secret agent who has gone rogue. With enormous wealth and an ability to assume various identities, he plays different roles in the lives of strangers, helping some and destroying others. In his NYT review, Jonathan Baumbach writes, "An abrasive and risky book, 'Cockpit' defines itself (as Kosinski does his hero) by the suicidal chances it takes, carrying throughout (as does Tarden) the lethal pellet of its own destruction, brilliantly defying the limitations of its form." Jonathan Dodd (1936 - 2017) was briefly the president of Dodd, Mead & Company, serving in this role from 1988 until the publishing giant closed in 1990. Jonathan was the great-grandson of Dodd, Mead, & Company founder Moses W. Dodd, and joined the company in 1958 upon graduating from Yale. His collection of materials related to Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, and Stephen Sondheim is held at Yale. . Inscribed by Author(s). First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Dust Jacket Included.