Books

Modern Library edition. Fine in fine dustwrapper. Nicely Inscribed (but possibly not signed) by Ellison in a very infirm hand to the daughter of his great friend and fellow author Albert Murray: "For Michele Murray, Who I've known and loved over all the long years, thanks to Michie and Al - Sincerely, Ralphie[?] on my 80th birthday party. March 1, 1994!" Ellison's handwriting is distinctive and this is clearly his, but whether he was operating at full capacity is not clear - almost exactly six weeks later Ellison would be dead. It is possible that instead of "Ralphie" he has written "Michie" again. Along with *Native Son* and *Go Tell It On the Mountain*, one of the three mid-century African-American novels that have entered the Western Canon as acknowledged classics. Winner of the National Book Award, as well as a *Burgess 99* title. *Blockson 101* #86. A wonderful presentation copy, likely among the last that he was to make.

A novel by Ralph Ellison, published in 1952, Invisible Man addresses many of the social and intellectual issues facing African-Americans in the early twentieth century, including black nationalism, the relationship between black identity and Marxism, and the reformist racial policies of Booker T. Washington, as well as issues of individuality and personal identity.