Books

First edition, first printing, of the author's debut novel, in the first issue dust jacket without reviews on the rear panel. V was awarded the William Faulkner Foundation Award for best debut novel; Pynchon was heralded as a "young writer of staggering promise" (Plimpton). "In this sort of book", wrote Time Magazine, "there is no total to arrive at. Nothing makes any waking sense. But it makes a powerful, deeply disturbing dream sense. Nothing in the book seems to have been thrown in arbitrarily, merely to confuse, as is the case when inept authors work at illusion. Pynchon appears to be indulging in the fine, pre-Freudian luxury of dreams dreamt for the dreaming. The book sails with majesty through caverns measureless to man". George Plimpton, "Review: V", The New York Times, 21 April 1963; "Books: A Myth of Alligators", Time Magazine, 15 March 1963. Octavo. Original light purple cloth, spine lettered in silver, 'V' design on front cover in blind, dark yellow endpapers, top edge black, fore edge untrimmed. With dust jacket designed by Ismar David. Housed in a custom brown morocco-backed brown cloth box. Head of spine and one corner just bumped, edges faintly sunned, binding a little shaken, clean and fresh; spine panel sunned, a little rubbed with a few tiny chips and nicks, short closed tear at head of rear panel, unclipped, bright and striking. A near-fine copy in like jacket.

"V." is a complex and multi-layered novel by Thomas Pynchon that spans continents and decades, showcasing the author's unique literary style and postmodern narrative techniques. The novel weaves together two main storylines: one follows Benny Profane, a wandering and somewhat aimless individual navigating the chaotic streets of New York City, and the other revolves around the search for an elusive and mysterious woman known only as V. Benny Profane, a disenchanted and somewhat passive character, spends his days in a group of similarly directionless friends known as the Whole Sick Crew. Their aimless exploits and misadventures reflect the absurdity and randomness of life in the modern world. Pynchon uses Profane's narrative to explore themes of aimlessness, existential crises, and the search for meaning in a seemingly chaotic existence. Interwoven with Profane's story is the quest to uncover the identity and history of V., a enigmatic and enigmatic woman who seems to appear across various times and places throughout the novel. As characters delve into this mystery, the narrative jumps across different settings and historical periods, including Egypt, Malta, and Italy, spanning from the early 20th century to the post-World War II era. Pynchon employs a nonlinear and non-traditional storytelling approach, incorporating a wide array of eccentric characters, historical references, and intricate subplots. The novel explores themes of entropy, the impact of technology on society, colonialism, conspiracy, and the struggle between order and chaos. Throughout the book, Pynchon's intricate prose and dense, often cryptic, narrative challenge readers to piece together the fragments of the story, offering a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating reading experience. "V." is celebrated for its richly detailed world, its exploration of existential questions, and its innovative narrative style, establishing Thomas Pynchon as a significant figure in contemporary literature. The novel's complexity invites multiple interpretations and continues to captivate readers with its depth and intricacy.