THE LIEUTENANT.

New York:: Dial Press,, 1967.. Hardcover first edition -. Just about fine in a very good dustjacket (bright white with none of the usual toning, but a closed tear on the lower edge of the front cover - which unfortunately had been tape-repaired on the interior and the discoloration from the tape shows thru - a lovely copy of the book, and a still attractive dj.) . First printing. Dubus's first - and only full-length - novel, a story of military life in peacetime, but in essence about the conflict between idealism and expediency. Dubus served for 5 years in the US Marines and knew well the world of which he was writing. In comments quoted on the back cover, Richard Yates described this as a 'fine, tense, wholly absorbing novel. You can read it at one sitting and miss none of its power, but it deserves to be studied for the skill of its construction and the complexity of its interlocking ironies.'