[Complete Set of the Rabbit Novels] Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit is Rich; Rabbit at Rest

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1960; 1971; 1981; 1990.

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Hardcover. First editions. All are fine in fine dustwrappers; *Rabbit, Run* has very slight sunning at the spine but is still fine. From the library of Susan Sheehan. *Rabbit, Run* and *Rabbit Redux* are Signed by Updike on the title pages. *Rabbit is Rich* is Inscribed by Updike to Sheehan on the title page: "for Susan Sheehan, Best wishes, John Updike." *Rabbit at Rest*s is Inscribed by Updike to Sheehan on the title page: "for Susan Sheehan, the most glamorous of my collectors, John Updike." Updike and Sheehan were colleagues at *The New Yorker* for nearly 50 years, both, among other things, contributing frequently to "The Talk of the Town." Both won Pulitzer Prizes: Updike for *Rabbit is Rich* and *Rabbit at Rest*; Sheehan for General Non-Fiction for her 1983 book *Is There No Place on Earth for Me?* A spectacular set of the Rabbit tetralogy, with both of his Pulitzer-winning titles from the library of another Pulitzer-winner. A significant association.

Item #382302

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Item #382302 [Complete Set of the Rabbit Novels] Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit is Rich; Rabbit at Rest. John UPDIKE.

John Updike
birth name: John Updike
born: 3/18/1932
died: 1/27/2009

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Biography

American writer of novels, short stories, and poetry, known for his careful craftsmanship and realistic but subtle depiction of "American, Protestant, small-town, middle-class" life. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literaturemore

Collecting tips:

If you want to collect John Updike in detail, you'd better build an addition onto your library. Its not true that he publishes a new book every week, it just seems like it, and his cheery indifference to writers' block has probably made him an editor's dream. He is generous with his signature, and apparently open to offers from publishers of limited editions. His first three books, a book of poetry The Carpentered Hen and Other Tame Creatures (1958); a book of short stories, The Poorhouse Fair (1959); and a novel Rabbit, Run (1960); are all moderately scarce in fine condition. The Carpentered Hen, despite being a slim volume of verse, tends to have a weak binding, so check to see if the text block has fallen forward much. The jacket copy also has to mention that the author has two children, as he apparently kept busy and two more children had appeared when the second issue came out. Reportedly the jacket on Rabbit, Run was identical through the first few printings, so you might want to check to see if it's been "married" to a first edition from a later printing (be suspicious if the jacket, which usually absorbs the most wear, is in better condition than the book). Because Updike has done so many limited and ephemeral pieces, some are truly rare: Dog's Death (1965), a short poem on a single mimeographed sheet, supposedly done in an edition of 100 copies is rarely seen (we've had it once). Although not so rare, his celebration of the last plate appearance of Ted Williams Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu (1977), a signed, limited edition, enjoys extra collecting pressure from baseball hobbyists, and especially Red Sox fans, and copies are occasionally seen signed by Williams, although they weren't necessarily intended to be. His work on Buckner's Bobble has yet to be written, but don't mention it or he'll have it out sometime next week.

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We also offer a comprehensive John Updike Bibliography and Price Guide.more