DARK PASSAGE, NIGHTFALL, THE BURGLAR, THE MOON IN THE GUTTER, STREET OF NO RETURN: FIVE NOIR NOVELS BY DAVID GOODIS OF THE 1940S AND 50S

New York City, NY: Library Of America, 2012. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.. New York City, NY: Library Of America, 2012. Hardcover. Fine/None, As Issued. First Edition/First Printing. 850 pages. Retrospective collection of the author's greatest novels. The First Hardcover Slipcased Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly the regular trade edition and all other subsequent printings. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original for LOA subscribers only. The First Edition is now rare. Printed to the highest standards on acid-free paper, utilizing sewn binding, closely woven rayon cloth boards, satin bound-in ribbon marker, and a page layout that is both readable and elegant. Guaranteed to last for several generations of readers and collectors (despite frequent and regular use, the estimated life span of Library of America Editions is 1000 years; un-used, they will last forever). Scrupulously edited and annotated by Robert Polito. Comes with the publisher's Promotional Material. Without DJ, as issued. Presents, in one sublime volume, five masterpieces by David Goodis: "Dark Passage", "Nightfall", "The Burglar", "The Moon In The Gutter", and "Street of No Return". The one Library of America Edition that sold out shortly after publication, and promptly went into multiple subsequent printings. That's because it is the single best introduction AND collection of David Goodis' unfairly neglected work. He is regarded by fanatical reader/followers, ourselves included, as the peer of, if not actually superior to, Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. A formalist, a stylist, and a humanist, he simply had no use for Hammett's misguided ideological leanings or Chandler's crass misogyny. "David Goodis was a unique figure. A Pulp Expressionist, he brought a jazzy style to his spare, passionate novels of mean streets and doomed protagonists" (Publisher's blurb). "An impressive volume of the great cult author" (The New York Review of Books). An absolute "must-have" title for David Goodis collectors. This title is a great collection. As far as we know, this is the only other copy of the First Hardcover Slipcased Edition/First Printing available online and is in fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Almost ALL "New" and shrinkwrapped copies are Later Printings. Second, Third, and all other subsequent printings have NO collectible value. First Edition = First Printing, no exceptions. Do not be deceived by Later Printings that are lower-priced because it's a total waste of your precious funds. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare copy thus. One of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. A fine copy. . ISBN 1598531484.