FLASH AND FILIGREE

New York: Coward-McCann, Inc, 1958. First printing. Near fine in very good jacket.. First US edition of Southern's first novel (published just after the UK edition), inscribed "with great admiration" to V.S. Pritchett. FLASH AND FILIGREE is a whirlwind satire on Los Angeles, on patients so irritating the best-behaved dermatologist must bludgeon them with ashtrays, on quiz shows and social disruptions and assorted other abstractions which defy (in typical Southern fashion) a summary started even with the best of intentions. David Ulin claimed it as the best of Southern's novels, calling it a "twisted parable about hypocrisy," which is certainly plausible. This copy is inscribed to V.S. Pritchett, who, like Southern, was a friend and great admirer of Henry Green, the "writer's writer's writer" (Southern) whose praise graces the dust jacket of FLASH AND FILIGREE and whose influence first assisted it to publication. In the same year his novel was published, Southern's interview with Green -in which he twice quotes Pritchett to flattering purpose - appeared in the PARIS REVIEW. "A clear case of rigging the market in literary reputations," Dominic Green later wrote: "Southern had already stitched himself up as Green's literary heir." An important association. 8'' x 5.25''. Original taupe cloth. In original dust jacket designed by Edward Sorel. 204 pages. Inscribed by Southern on front free endpaper: "To VSP with best wishes and great admiration, T. Southern." Light edgewear, faint stain to spine. Some chipping to dust jacket at extremities.