First American Edition, first printing. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1950. 8vo., 308 pp.
Hemingway's first novel published 10 years after "For Whom The Bell Tolls". The majority of the contemporary reviews were negative. Nonetheless it was a bestseller and later literary reviews were much more positive.
"Hemingway's novel opens with Colonel Richard Cantwell, a 50-year-old US Army officer, duck hunting near Venice, Italy at the close of World War II. It is revealed that Cantwell has a terminal heart condition, and most of the novel takes the form of a lengthy flashback, detailing his experiences in Italy during World War I through the days leading up to the duck hunt. The bulk of the narrative deals with his star-crossed romance with a Venetian woman named Renata who is over thirty years his junior." (Wikipedia)
With 'A' for first printing and Scribner's seal on copyright page. Book jacket style A: Black with an illustration of Venice by A. Ivancich in white, bordered by yellow progressing laterally to orange. Original price $3.00 on top of front flap. Photograph of Hemingway by Paul Radkai on the back cover. First printing: June 7th.,1950 with 76000 copies. Publication date: Sept. 7th., 1950. (according Bibliography C. Edgar Grissom A.22.1.a)
Book is in fine condition, pages are bright and clean. Dustjacket is in very good plus condition except some light fading to orange letters and panel of spine and mild spotting on rear pannel. Some minor signs of use to the edges. DJ now protected by a transparent Brodart sleeve.
