The Assistant

New York: Farrar Straus Cudahy, 1957. Hardcover. Good/Good. First edition. Cocked, and old tape shadows on the front pastedown, thus good in good only internally repaired first issue dustjacket with overall wear. Malamud's second book, and perhaps his scarcest. Contemporary author's printed presentation label ("With Best Wishes From The Author"), with the owner name filled in by the recipient ("L & C. Garrison"), and Inscribed on the label by Malamud: "For Chet & Louise - With whom we share goods, services, friendship - Much affection, Bern, Corvallis, 1958."

The recipients were Chet Garrison (a close friend and colleague of Malamud's) and his wife Louise. The Garrisons were the dedicatees of a 1967 omnibus edition of Malamud's work, *The Malamud Reader*. The shared "goods, services" referenced in the inscription refers in part to reciprocal babysitting services provided by each family.

Chester A. Garrison became friends with Malamud soon after Garrison joined the English Department at Oregon State College (now University) in 1954 where they bonded over being Easterners (Malamud from New York and Garrison from Jersey City) and their mutual interest in Thomas Hardy. Malamud's son Paul interviewed Garrison about their relationship for the book *The Magic Worlds of Bernard Malamud* (2001). A very nice association copy. *Burgess 99*.