The Devil Tree

New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1973. First Edition. Inscribed and signed by the author, Jerzy Kosinski, to fellow writer, Wayne Warga and his wife. Inscribed: “For Wayne and Carol, With friendship and admiration, Jerzy. December 1972.” Below which he has intriguingly drawn a self-portrait, a television, and a coffin. Near fine bright copy with just a thin strip of minor fading to the top and bottom edges in a near fine dust jacket with very slight darkening to the spine. Laid in is a large (12 1/2” x 22”) mimeograph copy of an article by Wayne Warga which appeared in the April 22, 1973 issue of The Los Angeles Times: “Jerzy Kosinski Reaches Down Into Life and Writes.” Creases from folding, else fine. From the library of journalist and novelist Wayne Warga. The youngest editor at Life Magazine at age 25, Warga reported on John F. Kennedy’s race for the Presidency, and went on to cover the Civil Rights movement for the magazine. For many years, Warga was one of the leading writers at the Los Angeles Times where he did in depth articles and features on writers and people in the arts. Later, Warga became a mystery novelist, creating three well-received bibliomysteries: Hardcover, Fatal Impressions, and Singapore Transfer, featuring Los Angeles rare book dealer, Jeffrey Dean.