Portnoy’s Complaint. By Philip Roth. First Trade Edition, First Printing. Random House. New York, 1969.

Philip Roth was critically praised for his entire career. He was also prolific, with dozens of novels published. Over the course of his career, Roth won most of the greatest literary prizes, including two National Book Awards, a PEN/Faulkner Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Portnoy’s Complaint is one of his most celebrated works. It was his first great commercial success as well, launching Roth to national spotlight–and also causing major controversy, because the novel contains explicit sexual details. It is a frame narrative told from the perspective of its titular character–a lusty and troubled young man–during a therapy session. While it did not win awards at the time of its publication, Portnoy’s Complaint has since been named one of the best novels of the century and a classic among Roth’s many works.

This first trade edition, first printing is in about-fine condition. In the original cloth, fine. Text block fine. Top edge dyed red. In the original dust jacket, very good with only minor soiling, creases, small chips to spine ends, and one small closed tear to head of spine. Corner of inside flap clipped, as issued.

An about-fine first trade edition of Portnoy’s Complaint.