From Here to Eternity.

JONES, James.

$1,800.00

Item Number: 148705

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1951.

First edition of the author’s first book, one of the great novels of World War II. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Boldly signed by James Jones on a page bound-in. In fine condition.

From Here to Eternity is a commanding novel of the soldiers who were poised on the brink of real manhood when World War II flung them unceremoniously into that abyss. It follows Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt a nonconformist hero who refuses to box at Schofield Barracks and is slowly destroyed by his own rebelliousness. Around him, others are fighing their own small battles--and losing. The title comes originally from a quote from Rudyard Kipling's 1892 poem "Gentlemen-Rankers", about soldiers of the British Empire who had "lost [their] way" and were "damned from here to eternity." “Extraordinary and utterly irresistible . . . a compelling and compassionate story" (Los Angeles Times). Basis for the 1953 film directed by Fred Zinneman starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra. It went on to win eight Academy Awards, including for best picture, director, adapted screenplay, supporting actor (Sinatra) and Supporting Actress (Donna Reed). Listed by Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest novels of the twentieth century.