A Fine Madness [*SIGNED*]

New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Near Fine in Fair dj. (c.1964). 2nd impression. Hardcover. [very slight wear to extremities, generally a nice clean copy; the jacket has a ragged chip at the bottom rige corner of the rear panel, some discoloration to the spine, small tape stains at the lower corners of the front panel, a small tears at a couple of corners]. INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author on the front endpaper: "To Del, / - with best wishes / and total confidence -- / Elliott / June '64." The author's first novel, about an "aging, raging poet seeking to maintain his identity and independence in a world that wants to reduce him to its own level." The basis for the 1966 film of the same name, starring Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward, and Jean Seberg. The inscription in this copy is to Delbert Mann, who was first announced as the film's director at the time the rights to the novel were first acquired in 1964, at which time the film was to be produced at M-G-M (the inscription dates from the month after the deal was announced). Alas, however, Mann was denied the opportunity to justify the author's "total confidence," as by the time the film went into production (now at Warner Bros.) he had been replaced by Irvin Kershner; the screenplay was by Baker himself. Signed by Author .