First American edition of Milan Kundera's first novel and the work that established his international reputation. A landmark literary examination of life under Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Published in 1969 by Coward-McCann, Inc. 8vo (6” x 8.75”), hardcover with dust jacket, 288 pages. Translated by David Humbly and Oliver Stallybrass. From the library of author, publisher, theologian, and rare-book dealer Arthur A. Cohen—founder of Noonday Press and co-founder of Meridian Books—bearing the distinctive Elaine Lustig Cohen-designed bookplate on the front pastedown and with "Cohen Library / Los Tres Almendros" ownership stamp on the FFE. Laid in are two contemporary pieces of publisher's ephemera: an original review-copy presentation slip and an original glossy publicity photograph of Kundera measuring approximately 4.75" x 7.25". Binding somewhat shaken. Light bumping and rubbing to dj, with one damp stain and one closed tear to rear cover. An attractive first American edition with meaningful literary provenance.
First American edition of Milan Kundera's first novel and the work that established his international reputation. A landmark literary examination of life under Communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Published in 1969 by Coward-McCann, Inc. 8vo (6” x 8.75”), hardcover with dust jacket, 288 pages. Translated by David Humbly and Oliver Stallybrass. From the library of author, publisher, theologian, and rare-book dealer Arthur A. Cohen—founder of Noonday Press and co-founder of Meridian Books—bearing the distinctive Elaine Lustig Cohen-designed bookplate on the front pastedown and with "Cohen Library / Los Tres Almendros" ownership stamp on the FFE. Laid in are two contemporary pieces of publisher's ephemera: an original review-copy presentation slip and an original glossy publicity photograph of Kundera measuring approximately 4.75" x 7.25". Binding somewhat shaken. Light bumping and rubbing to dj, with one damp stain and one closed tear to rear cover. An attractive first American edition with meaningful literary provenance.
