The Neverending Story by Michael Ende - 1983

This is an unread First Edition copy of The Neverending Story, a fantasy novel by the German writer Michael Ende, first published in 1979. This is the translation by Ralph Manheim. It was first published in English by Doubleday.

The novel was published as DIE UNENDLICHE GESCHICHTE and was a worldwide best-seller, adapted into several films. Its success was such that, on Sept 1/16, Google featured a Google Doodle marking the 37th anniversary of its initial publication.

"In an interesting commentary on the act of reading fantasy and on the nature of story itself, a boy named Bastian becomes so involved in reading of the amazing adventures of Atreyu in a book, also called THE NEVERENDING STORY, that he becomes part of the story himself, managing to save the fantasy land of the story in the process.

The book's use of mythic materials and fantasy tropes is far more sophisticated than one might expect from a children's book, and the common theme of experience and maturity is also treated well." - Barron (ed), Fantasy and Horror(1999) 7-115.

CONDITION

This copy has been sitting on a shelf since its purchase.

It is bright cherry red cloth on the outside, with a very faint design.

Inside, the start of each of the 26 chapters is marked by an entire page taken up by the drop cap for each letter in the alphabet from A to Z. The type is also in red and green, c/o designer and illustrator Roswitha Quadflieg (I attach a blurry photo).

The dust jacket is in excellent condition, with minor wear at the edges, mostly at the top of the spine.

The book has not been opened or read. There are no marks of any kind in or on it.