The Long Loneliness
Harper & Brothers, 1952. 8vo, quarter black paper over grey buckram cloth boards, silver titles, bevelled edges, 288pp. Stated First Edition with publisher’s code M-A to copyright statement. Unclipped dust jacket (3.50) shows fading to the orange letters on spine, mild toning to rear panel and flaps, faint shelf wear to spine crown and tail. Slight offsetting and toning to endpapers, but very little age darkening to pages and text edges as usually found. Binding sharp and square. The landmark spiritual autobiography of the foundress of the Catholic Worker Movement, writer, social activist and declared Servant of God. The book begins with her origins in journalism and radicalist movements, details her conversion to the Catholic faith and birth of her daughter, and is bookended by a career narrative of the Catholic Worker house and newspaper in Lower Manhattan, with stories of its many lively characters embracing faith, voluntary poverty, intellectual and charitable work. Dust jacket design and linocut illustrations by Fritz Eichenberg. Title is taken from the journals of 17th century English nun Mary Ward and printed as epigraph ‘I think, dear child, the trouble and the long loneliness you hear me speak of is not far from me, which whensoever it is, happy success will follow…. The pain is great, but very endurable, because He who lays on the burden also carries it.’ An increasingly scarce book, this copy in exceptionally clean, bright condition. Nearly fine in mylar. Fine / Near Fine.
Price: $600.00