BITTERWEEDS: Life with William Faulkner at Rowan Oak.
Irving, Texas: Society for the Study of Traditional Culture, 1977. First edition. Number 102 of 300 copies SIGNED BY FRANKLIN. Self-published recollections of Faulkner's stepson about his life with him. Includes a foreword by Franklin's mother, Estelle Oldham Faulkner, and an appendix printing some of Faulkner's letters to Franklin; a section on "Pappy's Immediate Family" that recounts the events surrounding the death of Faulklner's brother, Dean, in a plane crash; and a section on "Pappy's Colored Family" with cringe-worthy but seemingly loving accounts of Caroline "Mammy Callie" Barr, et al, and some use of derogatory language. Illustrated with frontis portrait of Franklin from a photo and small color photograph of the bitter weed "helenium amarum" pasted above its scientific description. This copy with a sprig of pressed but slowly deteriorating "bitterweeds" taped to front free endpaper, otherwise fine in near fine dust jacket with modest toning to spine. Scarce.
Item #72590
Price: $150.00