Birdman of Alcatraz: The Story of Robert Stroud.

First Edition of Thomas E. Gaddis' Birdman of Alcatraz: The Story of Robert Stroud; Inscribed by Him

Birdman of Alcatraz: The Story of Robert Stroud.

GADDIS, Thomas E.

$1,500.00

Item Number: 119233

New York : Random House, 1955.

First edition of this work, basis for the classic film starring Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden and Thelma Ritter. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To an informed man Mr. Combs Thomas E. Gaddis August 7, 1956.” Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Harvey Gabor. First editions are uncommon signed.

This is the fantastic story of a self-taught authority who has endured over half a lifetime in a solitary prison cell - a man among the breathing dead who filled his solitude with the electric vitality of living birds. Termed by a penologist "the Robinson Crusoe of all prison books," Birdman of Alcatraz is one of the great enigmas of world prison history. It was the basis for the 1962 film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Burt Lancaster), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Telly Savalas), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Thelma Ritter) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.

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