An American Tragedy
Theodore Dreiser, 1925
DREISER, Theodore (1871-1945). An American Tragedy. New York: Boni and Liveright, 1925.

First edition, first issue, of Dreiser's controversial masterpiece, with Boni & Liveright imprint on spine. Dreiser's novel, based on the 1906 murder of Grace Brown by her boyfriend Chester Gillette, was declared "obscene, indecent and manifestly tending to corrupt the morals of youth" by the highest court in Massachussets. He would not publish another book for 20 years. McDonald 18A.

Two volumes, octavo. Original black cloth (spine of vol. 1 a bit rubbed); printed dust jacket (spine panels toned, some chipping at edges, rear flap of vol. 1 and front flap of vol. 2 nearly detached); custom box.