Between the Covers

Hardcover. First edition. Fine in fine dustwrapper with the very slightest of rubbing at the edge of the spine. The rare true first edition of the author's first novel, preceded only by a pamphlet biography of Alabama Governor Lurleen Wallace. According to one source, only 75 hardcover copies of this edition were printed, but not distributed, when Carter sent an unsolicited copy to actor/director Clint Eastwood. The star read the book and bought the rights. Reportedly one of the conditions of the sale of the movie rights was the pulping of this entire edition in anticipation of the movie. It was later republished by Delacorte under the title *Gone to Texas*. Apparently a few copies were retained by employees of the printing house (which was actually in Birmingham, not Gantt, as stated).

Carter, born Asa Earl Carter, was an enigmatic figure who had a history of violence and racist beliefs and for years wrote and edited white-supremacist literature (he allegedly wrote George Wallace's famous "Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!" speech). Late in life he seemingly had a profound change of heart and turned to fiction, assuming the guise of Native American ancestry. His book *The Education of Little Tree* was, until the author's past came to light, widely lauded for its authenticity as a perceptive autobiography of a Native American. Carter choked to death in 1979, after a fist fight with his grown son, leaving many unanswered questions as to his true motivations and beliefs. While the book was printed in Birmingham, the purported publisher is noted on the copyright page as being from "Gantt, Alabama / In the Heart of the Creek Nation." Clint Eastwood's film version is not only one of the last great westerns, but also served as an important insight into the evolution of the portrayal of the Old West.

A rare book, only the fourth copy we've seen in 35 years, this copy purchased from an employee of the original printer. A superior copy, easily the nicest copy that we've seen. *OCLC* locates six copies (three in Alabama, one in Texas, the Library of Congress, and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County).

Item #447254