The Counterlife. Signed by Author Philip Roth. Signed Limited First Edition. Franklin Library. Franklin Center, 1986.

Philip Roth was critically praised for his entire career. He was also prolific, with dozens of novels published. While American Pastoral, Portnoy’s Complaint, and The Human Stain are usually cited as his best works, this volume–The Counterlife–easily stands among them. It won the National Book Critics Circle Award and it was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1987. The Counterlife’s acclaim has only risen over the decades, too. Scholars in particular have come to regard it as a masterpiece of postmodern fiction, citing the fragmented, meta-awareness of its narration.

This signed limited first edition is in near-fine condition. In the original red leather boards, finely gilt stamped. Text block near-fine, Roth’s signature appearing on the front endpaper. Gilt edges with only minor rubbing. Marbled endpapers and silk bookmark sewn in. The earliest appearance of the novel, preceding the first trade edition.

A near-fine signed limited edition of Philip Roth’s The Counterlife.