THE HEAT OF THE DAY [SIGNED]

New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1949. First American Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo, 372 pages; VG/G+; in blue and brown dust jacket, blue and brown spine with white titling; mild rubbing and wear, particularly to spine, including chips missing to head and tail of spine, tear along lower rear hinge; dust jacket protected with a mylar covering, price uncut '$3.00';




Inscribed on the ffep by Elizabeth Bowen, "Rachel MacKenzie / on her birthday / with my good wishes / from Elizabeth Bowen / Dec. 2nd 1950";




JM consignment;. Case 6. Rachel MacKenzie was a fiction editor at The New Yorker from 1956 through 1979. Known for nurturing the careers of such literary giants as Isaac Bashevis Singer and Saul Bellow, she also had a correspondence with Muriel Spark and encouraged her to submit to the New Yorker.




Charles McGrath, former writer and editor for The New Yorker, writes "MacKenzie was a bluestocking, a former college professor, who had a discerning eye for talent (she more or less discovered Isaac Singer and was a supporter of the young Philip Roth)..."




Bowen's war novel The Heat of the Day is considered one of the quintessential depictions of London atmosphere during the bombing raids of World War II. 1328468. Shelved Dupont Bookstore.