New York: Viking Penguin, 1985. First Edition, First Printing. . Hardcover. Fine/Near Fine. The third of this award-winning satirist's four novels, his shortest and probably most accessible, focuses on the the tempestuous marriage of a redhaired heiress and a Vietnam veteran lived out in their rented "carpenter gothic" house on the Hudson River, where their landlord, geologist McCandless, keeps his secrets in a locked room; boards and text are clean, tight, square; dustjacket shows some minor rubbing and edgewear, no tears or chips, not price-clipped. A very nice copy.

Synopsis

This story of raging comedy and despair centers on the tempestuous marriage of an heiress and a Vietnam veteran. From their "carpenter gothic" rented house, Paul sets himself up as a media consultant for Reverend Ude, an evangelist mounting a grand crusade that conveniently suits a mining combine bidding to take over an ore strike on the site of Ude's African mission. At the still center of the breakneck action--revealed in Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialoge—is Paul's wife, Liz, and over it all looms the shadowy figure of McCandless, a geologist from whom Paul and Liz rent their house. As Paul mishandles the situation, his wife takes the geologist to her bed and a fire and aborted assassination occur; Ude issues a call to arms as harrowing as any Jeremiad--and Armageddon comes rapidly closer. Displaying Gaddis's inimitable virtuoso dialogue, and his startling treatments of violence and sexuality, Carpenter's Gothic "shows again that Gaddis is among the first rank of contemporary American writers" (Malcolm Bradbury, The Washington Post Book World ).

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Details

Bookseller: H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 003814
Title: CARPENTER'S GOTHIC
Author: Gaddis, William
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - Fine
Jacket Condition: Near Fine
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition, First Printing.
ISBN 10: 0670697931
ISBN 13: 9780670697939
Publisher: Viking Penguin
Place of Publication: New York
Date Published: 1985
Keywords: MODERN NOVEL, FIRST EDITION, SATIRE, NEW YORK
Bookseller catalogs: Modern Novel; Fine Literature; Satire;

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H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller

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H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller

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About H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller

H.W. Gumaer, Bookseller, has been serving customers on the internet since 2003. We specialize in modern American and English fiction and in mystery and detective thrillers, as well as art and art history. We also have a growing selection of mid-to-late 19th century history and literature. Nearly all our modern and contemporary books are first editions or otherwise collectable.

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Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Rubbing: Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
Tight: Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
Fine: A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...