Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Evil Eye. The John Church Company, Cincinnati, New York, London, 1915.

Price: US$4725.00 + shipping

Condition: Good

Description: FITZGERALD'S OWN COPY? E. Wilson Jr. (book), F. Scott Fitzgerald (lyrics), Paul B. Dickey and F. Warburton Gilbert (music). Cincinnati, New York, London: The John Church Company, 1915. Folio (11 15/16" x 9 1/4", 303mm x 235 mm: : pp. 1-2 (title, contents) 3-92. Bound in the publisher's pictorial paper over boards, backed in orange tape. Presented in a quarter dark brown morocco clamshell box with "FITZGERALD'S COPY" gilt in the fifth panel. Both boards cracked vertically, partly split. Some losses at the corners. On the back cover, a dampstain. On the upper edge of the inside back cover, "F. Scott Fitzgerald lyrics" in pencil (with the first couple of characters initially in blue pencil). F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was not the most successful of students. His occupation at Princeton, when he was not barred from participation on account of his grades, was mainly social, journalistic and theatrical. The Triangle Club was then the university's largest dramatic organization and, putting aside some instances of drag, Fitzgerald's principal role was lyricist. Princeton's major role in Fitzgerald's life was principally to incubate his literary talents. Pieces for the Nassau found their way into This Side of Paradise, but sadly Fitzgerald's musical efforts ended in New Jersey. The Evil Eye was the Triangle Club's 1915-1916 production. The tunes are jaunty and the tales are mostly of love lost and found. The Evil Eye also marks the early collaboration of Fitzgerald and Edmund Wilson (book); Wilson reviewed Fitzgerald's work before publication; Fitzgerald called Wilson his "intellectual conscience." It is difficult to assess the pencil marking in the rear of the book. If this is in fact Fitzgerald's own copy, it is a relic of considerable magnitude in his church. The signature on the inside cover appears plausibly to be in Fitzgerald's hand. Princeton holds his copies of Safety First!, which was the 1916-1917 Triangle musical, and so it is at least plausible that he saved others of his lyrical efforts. Bruccoli A3.

Seller: Arader Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.