Something Happened. Signed by Joseph Heller. First Trade Edition, First Printing. Knopf. New York, 1974.

Joseph Heller was a celebrated American author who published some of the best humor and satire of the twentieth century. He is most widely remembered for his satirical novel Catch-22, a work full of characters, wit, and social critique. Yet his dedicated readers have also come to appreciate Something Happened. It was just his second novel–one long awaited, having been published over a decade after the success of Catch-22. Something Happened, however, is a very different work. It is a stream-of-consciousness narrative told from the perspective of Bob Slocum, an anxious businessman concealing a complicated inner life. Initial reviews were mixed. Critics found its departure from Catch-22’s conventions quite jarring. But critics and readers have returned to the work and recognized its singular genius. In turn, it has been named one of the most understudied great novels of the twentieth century. It showcases Heller’s range and talent as a literary artist.

This first trade edition, first printing is signed by Heller on the front free endpaper. It is in near-fine condition. In the original cloth, near-fine with only fading to edges. Text block fine. Top edge dyed red. In the original dust jacket, about-fine with only rubbing to spine ends, fading to spine, and minor chipping to edges.

A near-fine signed first trade edition by Joseph Heller.