The Bluest Eye Cloth - 1979

London: Chatto and Windus, 1979. First English Edition, First Impression. Cloth. Fine/fine. Signed first English edition of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, in fine condition.. Octavo, 164pp. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine. No additional printings listed on copyright page. Solid text block, a fine example. In the publisher's exceptional dust jacket, £4.95 retail price on front flap. Signed by the author in black ink on the title page. A beautiful, scarce example of the author's first published book. The true first edition of the Bluest Eye was published in the United States in 1970 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was an influential American novelist, essayist, editor, and professor, celebrated for her profound exploration of the African American experience. With a career spanning several decades, Morrison authored acclaimed works such as "Beloved," "Sula," and "Song of Solomon," earning her numerous prestigious awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993. Beyond her literary achievements, Morrison was a trailblazer for African American writers, using her powerful voice to advocate for social justice and illuminate the complexities of race, gender, and identity in American society.