Jennie Gerhardt

New York/London, Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1911., 1911. First edition, first issue (with "is" on line 30, page 22, and author's full name on the spine). 8vo. Frontispiece. Original gilt and dark blue stamped blue cloth (a few small spots at foredge). Very good-fine. Enclosed in a 1/2 blue morocco over blue cloth slipcase, spine with five raised bands, folding chemise. No signatures or bookplates. Laid in loose is a two (2) page Autograph Letter Signed ("Th. D.") in black fountain pen ink on tan letter paper, 3609 Broadway, New York City, Sept. 18, 1911. "My Dear Rider" [Fremont Rider, an editorial assistant of Dreiser's at the Butterick Publishing Co.*]. An important letter requesting permission to use comments Dreiser had made in some earlier letters in publicizing the book. In part: ".Harper & Brothers have asked permission of me to use excerpts from the various letters concerning Jennie Gerhardt." *This letter is not in the Collected Letters, by Robert Elias. But see p. 110, Vol. I for a related letter to Rider referring to Jennie Gerhardt. Dreiser submitted the first completed draft of Jennie Gerhardt to Rider for criticism. "Jennie Gerhardt" was filmed in 1933, directed by Marion Gering from the novel by Theodore Dreiser. Starring Sylvia Sidney as Jennie Gerhardt; Donald Crook as Lester Kane; Mary Astor as Letty Pace; Edward Arnold as Sen. Brander and H.B. Warner as William Gerhardt. Upon seeing the film, Theodore Dreiser was so pleased with the adaptation after seeing a preview, he sent a telegram to Paramount boss B.P. Schulberg saying, "Jennie moving improvisation upon by theme, excellently cast, beautifully interpreted.". Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine.