The Edible Woman.

Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1969. . First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author; 8vo; minor spotting to rear endpaper, light age-toning, else unmarked internally; publisher's maroon cloth, gilt lettering to spine, light bumping to corners and spine ends, light spotting to top edge, with the unclipped pictorial dustjacket, small chip to front panel at the fold, slight chipping to corners and spine ends, associated creasing to extremities, slight fading to spine, else very good; 1pp ALS loosely inserted, on white University of Alberta headed paper, dated 'September 23 '69', folded 3 times, minor spotting and toning.
A lovely association copy of Atwood's first novel, inscribed to her friend Jerome Hamilton Buckley on the title page: 'For J.E.H Buckley / with best wishes, / Peggy atwood / 1969.', together with 1pp ALS addressed to the same and dated 'September 23 '69'.

The letter, signed 'Peggy A.', is dated from Atwood's time teaching at the University of Alberta, and is on the Department of English's white headed paper. She opens by commenting on the release of the novel and refers to the present copy and another work: 'The novel is out in both Canada and England (the Sunday Times liked it) and a copy is making its way to you. The other book [The Journals of Susanna Moodie] has been held up - though it's coming out as a C.B.C. record in November!'

The majority of the letter details Atwood's thesis (presumably her PhD thesis, The English Metaphysical Romance, which she pursued for two years but did not complete): 'I'm about to settle back into the thesis. What I now propose to do is to put all the mother-goddess material first (as chapters one and two). [...] I haven't heard yet from Mr. Kiely, but will charge ahead unless I get an outraged letter from him telling me I'm WRONG.'

Closing, she makes a rather telling remark about the publisher: 'I doubt that my thesis will turn into a book - I'm developing a phobia about publishers. Are they all as chaotic as McClelland and Stewart, I wonder?'

A rare first edition by the two-time Governor General's Award winner, with a contemporary presentation inscription and delightful autograph letter.