Seven Long Times. Inscribed by Piri Thomas. First Edition, First Printing. Praeger Publishers. New York, 1974.

Piri Thomas was a celebrated American author of Afro-Latino heritage. He grew up in Spanish Harlem, struggling with gang violence, a single-parent home, and drug addiction. He eventually wound up in prison, serving a seven-year sentence for attempted robbery. He reformed himself, however, and began mentoring teens and writing. His 1967 memoir titled Down These Mean Streets was a breakthrough–it became a major bestseller and set Thomas up for a writer’s life. He went on to write several other books, including this volume, Seven Long Years. It is his memoir about his time behind bars. These years were crucial for his personal and artistic development. They helped him reach sobriety and refocus his life on writing and mentorship. Yet they were also horrific years in America’s dangerous carceral system. In Seven Long Years, Thomas simultaneously offers critiques of our prisons and reveals how he overcame poverty, imprisonment, and drug addiction to be one of the most celebrated memoirists of the period.

This first edition, first printing is inscribed by Thomas on the front free endpaper. It is in very good condition. In the original cloth, about-fine with only rubbing and fading to edges. Text block very good, only minor soiling and foxing to edges. In the original dust jacket, very good with chipping, rubbing, and small closed tear.

A scarce inscribed first edition by Piri Thomas.