A DEFENSE OF ARDOR: ESSAYS

New York City, NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 198 pages. The author's fourth collection of literary essays. One of the greatest literary books of our time. The first appearance of the title in English and in the United States. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Adam Zagajewski's "Obrona zarliwosci" in the definitive English translation by Clare Cavanagh. The masterly achievement of a poet-genius who writes rare poet's prose. These fourteen essays constitute Zagajewski's "defense": An engaging and witty blend of literary commentary and memoir, it is passionate about beleaguered aesthetic values yet refreshingly free of rancor. "Thoughtful; precise; rhapsodic; rueful; courteous; prone to wonder. Nothing could take the reader in a direction more contrary to today's cult of the excitements of self than to follow Zagajewski as he unspools his seductive praise of serenity, sympathy, forbearance, of the calm and courage of an ordinary life. Indispensable prose" (Susan Sontag). The only American writer of our time who has written a comparable polemic on behalf of literature-as-the ideal life is Cynthia Ozick, and it cannot be an accident that one of her classic books is "Art & Ardor" (1983). An absolute "must-have" title for Adam Zagajewski collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed, dated (in the year of publication), and inscribed in black ink-pen on the title page by the author: "To Heather, Adam Zagajewski [inscription in Polish], September 2004". It is also very prominently and beautifully signed, dated, and inscribed in blue ink-pen by the translator: "9-30-04 To Heather, with very best wishes, Clare Cavanagh". They signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. This title is a great book. As far as we know, this is the only such double-signed, publication-year dated, and inscribed copy of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing (American) available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws or are subsequent printings. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. One of the greatest poet/writers of our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER ADAM ZAGAJEWKI AND WISLAWA SZYMBORSKA TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0374136300.