Christmas Story. By H.L. Mencken. Illustrated by Bill Crawford. First Edition, First Printing. Knopf. New York, 1946.

Henry Louis Mencken was an American scholar, editor, and satirist who is best known for his abrasive humor and conservative stances. He wrote on a wide range of subjects–from literary criticism to religion to philosophy. His texts championed the libertarian worldview at a time when that political philosophy was just taking root in the United States. In fact, Mencken was one of the first notable people to call themselves a libertarian in the U.S. Unsurprisingly, though, his ideas are also often reactionary and often outright bigoted. Yet Mencken remains influential to those Nietzschean folks who prioritize individualism over all else. In this volume, Mencken presents a short work satirizing Christmas stories. It is raucous, immoral, and cheeky. Paired with Bill Crawford’s illustrations, Mencken’s Christmas Story argues that we take the Christian holiday a little too seriously–that adults would enjoy things perhaps another way.

This first edition, first printing is in good condition. In the original full cloth, very good with only fading and soiling to edges. Text block very good, only minor cracking to hinge at title page. In the original dust jacket, good with minor chipping and creases. Excessively price clipped.

A good first edition of Mencken’s Christmas story for adults.