Books

New York: Avon, 1964. First mass-market paperback edition. Small 8vo. Pictorial wrappers, light edgewear with a few creases, cover starting along top crease, preserved in mylar. First mass-market paperback edition. Small 8vo. Signed and inscribed by Roth to his father: "To my father, Herman Roth / Kennst du das Land? / Henry Roth" in blue ink on verso of front wrap. ("Do you know the country?" in Yiddish) "Henry recalled Herman as 'a timid, frightened, frustrated little guy, and that's the best I could say about him.' His prose would say much worse." (Kellman, p. 29) Roth's great autobiographical novel about New York City ghetto life was widely praised upon its release in 1934, but sold only 4000 copies and faded into obscurity. In 1964 it was republished as a paperback by Avon books and reviewed by Irving Howe as the first paperback book ever reviewed on the front page of the New York Times Books section; it sold quickly through 250,000 copies. Howe called it "one of those…

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.