Solo Faces. By James Salter. First Edition, First Printing. Little, Brown. New York, 1979.

James Salter was a writer’s writer. His prose is without question some of the best ever written in English. Many of his contemporaries considered him the best prose stylist of the century. His works are consistently driven by the sounds of language rather than plot, making him a difficult read, but one deeply rewarding to the connoisseur of language. Salter wrote several novels and short story collections, including Dusk, Light Years, and A Sport and a Pastime. Then after a brief hiatus, he published this volume: Solo Faces. It is a character study of Vernon Rand, a rock climber whose obsession with the sport drives him to both acclaim and isolation as he ascends increasingly more challenging mountains and rock faces. The novel is written in Salter’s brilliant, spare prose, but also captures its protagonist’s unique voice. It is considered an oft overlooked classic and one of Salter’s best works.

This first edition, first printing is in very good condition. In the original quarter cloth, fine. Text block fine. In the original dust jacket, very good with only rubbing, creases, and bumping to edges.

A very good first edition of Solo Faces.