Countrymen of Bones. Inscribed by Robert Olen Butler. First Edition, First Printing. Horizon Press. New York, 1983.

Robert Olen Butler is a celebrated American author of dozens of novels and short story collections. He is noted for his wide range of literary styles and subject matter. Over the course of his career, readers and critics have been continually surprised by his ever-changing artistic choices. For his contributions, he has been awarded the National Magazine Award for Fiction, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Countrymen of Bones is considered one of his best works. It was just his third novel–a character-driven drama about two scientists and their families living in the New Mexico desert. It was critically acclaimed upon publication and helped to solidify Butler’s future as one of the best authors of his generation.

This first edition, first printing is inscribed by Butler on the front free endpaper. It is in about-fine condition. In the original quarter cloth, about-fine with only minor bumping to corners and dampstaining to spine. Text block about-fine, only minor dampstaining to head and foot of spine. In the original dust jacket, near-fine with only minor rubbing to corners and dampstaining to spine. With a reviewer’s typed and signed note laid in. The note is a glowing endorsement of the work addressed to the inscription recipient who interviewed Butler in 1983.

An about-fine inscribed first edition of Countrymen of Bones.