A Sweet Devouring

New York: Albondocani Press, 1969.

Sold

Softcover. First edition. Fine in marbled self-wrappers. Prospectus for the edition laid-in. Copy letter R of 26 lettered copies Signed by the author. Additionally Inscribed by the author to a noted New York literary figure. A beautifully produced little volume of Welty's splendid essay on her youthful obsession with reading – the "sweet devouring" of the title. One of the truly scarce Welty titles, and probably her most sought after limited edition. A wonderful little book.

Item #298027

Ask a Question

item image

Item #298027 A Sweet Devouring. Eudora WELTY.
A Sweet Devouring

Eudora Welty
birth name: Eudora Welty
born: 4/13/1909
died: 7/23/2001
nationality: USA

View Reference Info

Biography

American short-story writer and novelist whose work is focused with great precision on the regional manners of people inhabiting a small Mississippi town that resembles her own birthplace and the Delta country. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literaturemore

Collecting tips:

A well-known poet of our acquaintance used to refer to Eudora Welty as "Aunt Meatloaf." When queried about it, his justification was "Well, everyone likes meatloaf, don't they?" This may be more true of Welty than meatloaf in an increasingly vegetarian world, but he made his point. Welty's first two real books A Curtain of Green (1941), a collection of stories; and The Robber Bridegroom (1942) are both very scarce in fine condition, with the latter title, an amusing fairy tale of sorts, always in demand. Her third book, a collection of short stories, of wartime vintage The Wide Net (1943) is just as scarce, but if you can find it with the pink spine-lettering unfaded, or barely so, it jumps up to rare in our estimation. Preceding publication of A Curtain of Green, an advance excerpt from the book called The Key was issued by the publisher. It is a rarity, and expensive when found, but surprisingly not that eagerly sought. Welty has participted in the publication of a number of limited and signed editions. Our favorite, and one of the scarcest is A Sweet Devouring (1969), a short but evocative essay about her youthful obsession with books and reading.

Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of Eudora Welty Rare Books and First Editions (or download it via the link as a 4.15 MB pdf file).

We also offer a comprehensive Eudora Welty Bibliography and Price Guide.more