Skip to content

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel Hardcover - 1990

by Wolfe, Tom


About this book

The Bonfire of the Vanities is a 1987 satirical novel by Tom Wolfe. The book is a drama about ambition, racism, social class, politics, and greed in 1980s New York City. It focuses on three characters: WASP bond trader Sherman McCoy, Jewish assistant district attorney Larry Kramer, and British expatriate journalist Peter Fallow.

Sherman McCoy, a self-appointed 'Master of the Universe,' has a fashionable wife, a Park Avenue apartment, and a Southern mistress. His spectacular fall begins the moment he is involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Bronx. Prosecutors, newspaper hacks, politicians, and clergy close in on him, determined to bring him down. The Bonfire of the Vanities is a caustic satire on the money-feverish Eighties. This exuberant novel cemented Wolfe's reputation as the foremost chronicler of his age.

The novel was originally created as a serial in the style of Charles Dickens' writings, running  27 installments in Rolling Stone starting in 1984. The novel was a bestseller and an incredible success often noted as one of Wolfe’s greatest works. 



From the publisher

Sherman McCoy, the central figure of Tom Wolfe's first novel, is a young investment banker with a fourteen-room apartment in Manhattan. When he is involved in a freak accident in the Bronx, prosecutors, politicians, the press, the police, the clergy, and assorted hustlers high and low close in on him, licking their chops and giving us a gargantuan helping of the human comedy, of New York in the 1980s, a city boiling over with racial and ethnic hostilities and burning with the itch to Grab It Now. Wolfe's novel is a big, panoramic story of the metropolis that reinforces the author's reputation as the foremost chronicler of the way we live in America.

First Edition Identification

The 'true' first edition of Bonfire of the Vanities was published by Franklin Library, under a special arrangement with Farrar Straus Giroux, who published the first trade edition, also in 1987. 

The Franklin Library edition was limited and released in full purple leather with vibrant gilt lettering and embellishments. All edges gilt, raised bands on spine, silk bookmark, marbled endpapers. 'First Edition Franklin Library' is printed on the title page. 

The first trade edition published by Farrar Straus Giroux has 'First printing, 1987' on the copyright page. The bottom of the first trade edition dust jacket says 'BY THE AUTHOR OF "THE RIGHT STUFF"



Details

  • Title The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel
  • Author Wolfe, Tom
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 552
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York
  • Date 1990
  • ISBN 9780374115371
Back to Top

More Copies for Sale

The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities

by Tom Wolfe

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$11.14
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990. Hardcover. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$11.14
FREE shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities

by Tom Wolfe

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
7
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990. Hardcover. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities

by Tom Wolfe

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
10
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities

The Bonfire of the Vanities

by Tom Wolfe

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
4
Seller
Seattle, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$11.17
FREE shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel

by Wolfe, Tom

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - CollectibleGood
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Wantage, New Jersey, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$12.50
$3.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
CollectibleGood. 1988 Jonathan Cape UK EDITION, Hardcover copy is in good,solid,condition,DJ has some wear with minor tearing,unmarked text, a good earlier printing. We take great pride in accurately describing the condition of our books and media, ship within 48 hours, and offer a 100% money back guarantee. Customers purchasing more than one item from us may be entitled to a shipping discount.
Item Price
$12.50
$3.99 shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities

by Wolfe, Tom

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Denham Springs, Louisiana, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$15.00
$3.95 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar Straus Giroux, 11/1/1990. Hardcover. Used - Good. Used - good condition. For mass produced books with multiple editions the book on hand may not be edition listed. Please reach out with any questions about condition or edition.
Item Price
$15.00
$3.95 shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel

by Wolfe, Tom

  • Used
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used: Good
Edition
Updated
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$15.41
FREE shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1990-11-01. Updated. hardcover. Used: Good.
Item Price
$15.41
FREE shipping to USA
The Bonfire Of The Vanities
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire Of The Vanities

by Wolfe, Tom

  • Used
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - VG/VG DJ Lightly Rubbed. Pages Clean, Binding Tight. DJ In Mylar Wrap. Pages: 659.
Edition
1st Printing
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Vancouver, Washington, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 3 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$18.50
$10.99 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux. VG/VG DJ Lightly Rubbed. Pages Clean, Binding Tight. DJ In Mylar Wrap. Pages: 659.. 1990. 1st Printing. Hardcover..
Item Price
$18.50
$10.99 shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel

by Wolfe, Tom

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
First Thus
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
West Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 4 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$20.00
$5.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1990. First Thus. hardcover. Good/Good. 6x2x9. 1990 edition, with remainder mark on lower page edge. Dust jacket has light wear. Gray paper boards are lightly rubbed and soiled. Binding is good. Pages are clean and unmarked. LO
Item Price
$20.00
$5.00 shipping to USA
The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel (gift edition)
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different

The Bonfire of the Vanities: A Novel (gift edition)

by Tom Wolfe

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
First Thus
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 13
9780374115371
ISBN 10
0374115370
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Harwich Port, Massachusetts, United States
Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 1 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Item Price
$29.00
$6.00 shipping to USA

Show Details

Description:
New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1990. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1990. First printing of the 1990 gift edition with new foreword by the author, first thus. 8vo. Hard cover binding, 659 pp. Very light spotting to page edges, small scratch to dust jacket. Appears unread. Very good in very good dust jacket, protected with an archival-quality mylar cover.. First Thus. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo.
Item Price
$29.00
$6.00 shipping to USA