Books

First edition of his first book. v, [i], [1]-599 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Roth's novel of ghetto life on the Lower East Side of New York was hailed as a modernist masterpiece upon publication and compared to the work of James Joyce. Despite critical acclaim it sold poorly and remained out of print until it was resurrected by the critics of the New York School in the 1960s. Original blue cloth. Near fine copy in the scarce first state dust jacket (chipped, spine panel defective with loss of bottom third and partial loss of title at head) by Stuyvesant Van Veen. Booklabel of Abraham (Pascal) and Marcie Kanner laid in v, [i], [1]-599 pp. 1 vols. 8vo.

Call It Sleep is a novel by Henry Roth that tells the story of a young Jewish boy growing up in the immigrant slums of New York City during the early 20th century. The narrative explores themes of identity, assimilation, and the struggle to find a sense of belonging.