*SOLD*
A potent philosophical examination of the bleakness of American society
 
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
New York, 1952
 
First edition, first printing book in early jacket(Gordon Parks' photo of Ellison on rear panel, price of $5.95). Book is Near Fine, jacket is Near Fine with minor wear around edges/spine head and tail, tiny nicks here and there. An example really better than most – dark dust jackets of this era are notoriously prone to wear so this one is a welcome sight. Housed in custom case.
 
Inscribed by Ellison – “For Fred Goldstein, With thanks for his help and for his patience. Sincerely, Ralph Ellison”
 
A previous bookseller note accompanying this book identifies Goldstein as a Random House editor. He’s an elusive character as we've been unable to find records on him, despite contact with eminent Ellison scholars and Random House. Ellison didn’t publish much in his lifetime, so it wouldn't require a large imaginative leap to assume Mr. Goldstein played a role in the publication of Invisible Man. Either way, he’s clearly valued by Ellison and inscribed first printings are relatively rare. 
 
“Ellison’s novel is deeply existential. The nameless protagonist(nameless because of the cultural identity the slaves lost when brought to America) deals endlessly with alienation and anxiety—conditions Ellison links to the harsh realities of being black in America. This protagonist tries to find meaning in religion, romance, and revolutionary movements, but ultimately discovers that no place is safe. Meaning is illusive when forced to live with dehumanization. He finds himself unable to actualize being in a society that fails to see his humanity. Ultimately, he makes the conscious decision to retreat from life and become in actuality what he is culturally: an invisible man.”(Partially Examined Life)