Bernard Malamud

The Assistant

originally published:
New York : Farrar, Straus & Cudahy
1957

We offered this copy of the first edition, in a first issue dustwrapper, in our Catalog 83.

awards:

  • Burgess 99(1957)
  • Time Magazine 100 Novels(1957)

reference info

bio notes:
born: 4/26/1914
died: 3/18/1986
born as: Bernard Malamud
nationality: USA

American novelist and short-story writer who made parables out of Jewish immigrant life. - Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature

Collecting tips:

His 1952 novel The Natural is very eagerly sought after, by both literature and baseball collectors, it came in three different color bindings - red, blue, and gray, with dealers invariably asserting the priority of whatever color copy they happen to have in hand. All of our experience would tend to indicate that there is no obvious priority - frankly we'll note the color of the binding in our descriptions, but we pretty much value them equally. The English edition (1963) is interesting as it offers a glossary for baseball-challanged Britishers that is not in the American edition. The first edition of The Assistant needs to have reviews of The Natural on the rear panel. Fine copies are very uncommon. his 1958 collection The Magic Barrel and Other Stories comes in two issues with no established priority, but collectors seem to prefer the issue from the Jewish Publication Society over the issue from Farrar Straus and Cudahy.

Email us to request a printed copy of our catalog of Bernard Malamud Rare Books and First Editions (or download it via the link as a 1.62 MB pdf file).

We also offer a comprehensive Bernard Malamud Bibliography and Price Guide.