GOING TO MEET THE MAN
- (New York): Dell, 1966
(New York): Dell, 1966. Near fine.. First paperback edition of Baldwin's only short story collection. Baldwin's first and only short story collection included eight stories, six of them previously published in periodicals ranging from COMMENTARY to MADEMOISELLE, between 1948 and 1965. The titular story was first published in the October 1965 issue of the ambitious but short-lived jet-set style magazine STATUS (preceding the book's publication by a month, though listed as a reprint from it in David Leeming's bibliography). Contemporary critical reactions were mixed: in Baldwin's characterization, "The ones some called the best the others thought were the worst. The general opinion seems to be I was a nice sweet cat with talent when I was twenty but now I'm bitter and it's had a terrible effect on my work" (Weatherby).
The collection was the first of Baldwin's books to be edited by E.L. Doctorow, replacing Christopher Lehmann-Haupt at Dial Press; Doctorow later recalled Baldwin's graciousness towards his then-young and wary editor and his ability "not to make you question but to make you see." 7'' x 4.25''. Original color pictorial wrappers with illustration by Oscar Liebman, Dell 2931, cover price 75c. All edges stained green. Publisher's ads at rear. 220, [4] pages. Light edgewear. Leaves with gentle toning to margins, short closed tear to first leaf.
The collection was the first of Baldwin's books to be edited by E.L. Doctorow, replacing Christopher Lehmann-Haupt at Dial Press; Doctorow later recalled Baldwin's graciousness towards his then-young and wary editor and his ability "not to make you question but to make you see." 7'' x 4.25''. Original color pictorial wrappers with illustration by Oscar Liebman, Dell 2931, cover price 75c. All edges stained green. Publisher's ads at rear. 220, [4] pages. Light edgewear. Leaves with gentle toning to margins, short closed tear to first leaf.