Between the Covers

Agee's first book Permit Me, Voyage (1934), is a moderately expensive book, and scarce in fine condition, but like much poetry, doesn't exactly fly off the shelf. His most eagerly sought after title, a collaboration with photographer Walker Evans, is Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941), which is nearly impossible to find with an unfaded spine. A relatively inexpensive alternative is the 1960 reprint that adds additional Evans photographs. His posthumously published novel A Death in the Family (1957) won the Pulitzer Prize, and while published in substantial numbers is becoming very scarce in the right condition, as the blue jacket rubs easily. The book has a number of issue points, but if the title page isn't printed in blue, look no further. Agee didn't sign many books, so finding signed copies should be considered a coup, unless its one of the posthumously published ones.

We also offer a comprehensive James Agee Bibliography and Price Guide.more