With a Karate-Themed Inscription

Karate Is a Thing of the Spirit [US + UK]

Crews, Harry

Publication: New York and London: William Morrow and Company and Secker and Warburg, 1971 and 1972. First Edition.

Notes: Crews' fourth novel, Crews' fourth novel about an outlaw band of karate fanatics. This pair of books—the first US and UK editions—comes from the Tom Garner collection; Garner was a friend and fan of Crews and obtained many books with great inscriptions.

The American first is inscribed on the second half-title: "For Tom: 'Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional," Masutato [sic, Masutatsu] Oyama. 8th degree black belt. Dead now. My beloved Master. Harry Crews." This book seems to belong to a series of books Crews inscribed for Garner explaining his dedications. "Karate..." does not have a proper dedication, however. This inscription might be the closest thing to one. According to the Ahearns' bibliography, the edition was just 5,942 copies.

The UK edition, which is probably the scarcest Crews hardcover, is inscribed on the title page, "For Tom, Brother, Harry Crews."

Edition + Condition: First editions (first printing with no additional printings noted in either book). Both books are near fine in like jackets. The US edition has minor bumping to the spine ends; the UK has a bit of surface scuffing and a very short tear on one edge. The two books are housed in one of Garner's distinctive black-cloth clamshell boxes.

Item No: #364491

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