A Circle of Quiet. Inscribed by Madeleine L’Engle. Fourth Printing. Farrar, Straus, Girroux. New York, 1976.

Madeleine L’Engle was an American author of fiction, poetry, and young-adult novels. She spent her entire life writing yet almost gave up her work after years of rejection from publishers and poor sales of the few books she had managed to publish. But things changed in the 1960s with the release of A Wrinkle in Time. It was a surprise bestseller and won the Newbery Medal. It spurred a whole series of young-adult novels. It has since been placed among the greatest YA fiction of the last 100 years by critics and readers alike. L’Engle continued to write, producing numerous other books and series. This volume, A Circle of Quiet, is one such example. It is a work of nonfiction, a memoir recounting L’Engle’s life through multiple points. In it, she is notably humble and endearing, writing not in celebration of her literary career, but candidly discussing its influences, challenges, and lessons.

This first edition, fourth printing is inscribed by L’Engle on the front free endpaper. It is in good condition. In the original cloth, very good with only bumping and rubbing to edges. Text block very good, only slightly cocked and foxing to top edge. In the original dust jacket, good with soiling, chipping, creases, and closed tears. With a former owner’s holograph letter laid in.

A good inscribed copy of A Circle of Quiet.