Flight; A story

[Covelo, California]: Carolyn and James Robertson, The Yolla Bolly Press, 1984. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Fine. Wikstrom, Karin. One of 260 copies, folio size, 60 pp., signed by Wallace Stegner and Karin Wikstrom. John Steinbeck (1902-1968), considered "a giant of American letters", was best known for his portrayals of families in California, often exploring themes of alienation and injustice through "everyman" characters (n. b., info from Wikipedia). "Flight" is a short story, originally published in the collection "The Long Valley", on the subject of manhood, as the protagonist Pepe strives to fill his father's place. While in town, he kills a man and must fllee, and his subsequent trials reveal that Pepe is not only "trying to live up to the foolish and romantic ideal of manhood common to his kind, but [is] one of the incarnations of Everyman pursuing the ideals that, foolish or not. . .in the end give him stature and dignity" (per the afterword).

Wallace Stegner (1909-1993) provides an afterword for this edition. Stegner was often called "The Dean of Western Writers"; he was a member of the faculty at Stanford University and founded its creative writing program. The Stegner Fellowship program at Stanford was named in his honour, and he is a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 1972 and the U.S. National Book Award in 1977. In the afterword, Stegner analyses the themes and characters in the story, in the context of Steinbeck's other work as well as the literary movement at the time.

Included in this publication by The Yolla Bolly Press are woodcuts by Swedish artist Karin Wikstrom (b. 1959), who has contributed illustrations for several other Press editions, including "The Inland Whale" by Theodora Kroeber and "Zapata" by John Steinbeck. Here, her prints evoke a pathos for the tragic fate of the characters in their pursuit of dreams and dignity.

___DESCRIPTION: Full natural linen with wrap-around tan illustration of desert landscape, white paper spine label with brown lettering, fore-edge uncut, tan endpapers, title page with orange woodcut by Karin Wikstrom, six colour woodcuts by Wikstrom tipped in throughout, orange woodcuts by Wikstrom throughout; Goudy Modern type, folio size (12 1/4" by 10 1.4"), pagination: [i-vi] 1-39 [40-42] 43-52 [53] [1 colophon], this no. 161 of 250 numbered copies (total edition of 260), signed by Wallace Stegner and Karin Wikstrom on the colophon. Loosely laid into the book is a small note from the publisher regarding variation in handmade books. In a slipcase covered with brown paper.

___CONDITION: A fine copy; the covers clean, the corners straight and unrubbed, the binding tight with solid hinges, the interior clean and bright, and free of prior owner markings; as new; the laid-in note also fine. The slipcase is fine overall, strong and sturdy, free of splits or tears, clean, without wear other than a few very light stray marks on one side.

___POSTAGE:  Please note that this is an unusually heavy volume and additional postage may apply; please inquire for details. Internationa customers, please also note that any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

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