SOMEBODY IN BOOTS

Item Details

London, Constable & Co. Ltd., 1935, Hardcover in Dustjacket

First English

SOMEBODY IN BOOTS by Nelson Algren 
Published by Constable & Co. Ltd., London 1935. First English Edition, First Printing. Octavo. Brick red covers with black printing. 382 pages. Near Fine, with former owner’s signature penned to pastedown and off-set onto the ffep, a few small stains to the front edge of the text block, and some scratches to the top edge, in a Very Good, bright, unclipped, unrestored original dust jacket, with light spine edge and corner-tip chipping,  A well preserved copy of the author’s uncommon debut novel, seldom encountered with the dust jacket.

Nelson Algren (1909-1981) American writer who had a profound impact on American literature by shifting the focus toward society’s outcasts. Somebody in Boots is considered a raw, unflinching precursor to classic Depression era realism. With depictions of casual racism, systemic violence, police brutality, and extreme poverty, it gave voice to the lived experiences of the destitute, hobos, and drifters for whom someone approaching them in boots represented authority and looming violence. Algren originally titled the book Native Son, but gave the title away to his close friend Richard Wright who used it for his own iconic work.