Don't Cry For Me.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL GAULT

Publication: E P Dutton & Co, Inc, 1952, New York

First edition. 8vo. Author's first novel. Former owner's small address label affixed to bottom edge of front and rear pastedown sheets, but covered by the dust jacket flap, else near fine in lightly rubbed dust jacket with light wear to spine ends, corners, and a minor bit of creasing. Fredric Brown said, "It is not only a beautiful chunk of story but, refreshingly, it's about people instead of characters, people so real and vivid that you'll think you know them personally. Even more important, this boy Gault can write, never badly and sometimes like an angel." 1001 Midnights says, "... is first-rate, tough, uncompromising, insightful, opinionated, occasionally annoying, and altogether satisfying." Edgar winning novel in 1952 for best first novel. Laid-in to this copy in its mailing envelope, is a gloomy 55-word note signed by Gault as "Old Bill" and bearing a rubberstamped image of a Black Mask-era detective in a broad brimmed fedora, with gun. Responding to a fan in June, 1992, Gault confesses that he is "too befuddled these days to write a proper letter: At the age of 82, life ain't what it used to be... maybe later I'll be in better condition." But with a hint of pride he encloses a black & white photocopy of his latest Brock Callahan paperback, Dead Pigeon. "Old Bill" died in 1995, at the age of 84.