Rise of Life on Earth, The – Joyce Carol Oates
NF/NF First Print

For sale: a Rare and Exceptional first hardcover edition, first printing of The Rise of Life on Earth by Joyce Carol Oates. First Edition stated, 1991 New Directions. First Printing, with complete number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1.

The book is in Near Fine condition with clean, bright boards, strong title ink on a tilted spine, clean page blocks, tight binding, heavy spine tilt, rolled spine ends, mild edge wear, and strong corners. The interior of the book is in Near Fine condition with the Previous Owner’s initials on the first free end paper and no other marks, inscriptions, or other signs of ownership. The end papers and the interior pages are clean and bright.

The dust jacket is in Near Fine condition with mild edge wear. First state jacket by  with the $16.95 price on the front flap looks great in a new archival wrap.

Kathleen Hennessy, an attentive, overworked nurse’s aide whose childhood had been shattered by abuse, divorce, and murder, hides an intense fury and an indifference to evil under a mask of sweetness and passivity