Saints and Strangers. Inscribed by Angela Carter. First American Edition, First Printing. Viking. New York, 1986.

English author Angela Carter wrote some of the best short stories of the twentieth century. Her work is known for its intense and seamless interweavings of magical realism, feminism, and fairy tale. Her greatest book-length work is The Bloody Chamber. Published in 1979, it has influenced genre authors and literary authors alike. But Carter’s other works should not be overlooked, either. This short collection, for example, contains some of her best fiction. The stories concern historic literary figures, but depicted from sometimes close, sometimes magical, sometimes mythical perspectives. The collection was first published in England under the title Black Venus. Saints and Strangers is the American title. It remains one of Carter’s most celebrated collections–a perfect blend of historical fiction and magical realism in the short story form.

This first American edition, first printing is inscribed by Carter on the title page. It is in near-fine condition. In the original quarter cloth, fine. Text block fine. In the original dust jacket, near-fine with only bumping and creases to back edges. Preceded only by the first English edition which was published under the title Black Venus.

A scarce inscribed first American edition by Angela Carter.