The House of Breath.

GOYEN, William.

Item Number: 90418

New York: Random House, 1950.

First edition and advance review copy of Goyen’s first book. Octavo, original boards. With the publisher’s advance copy slip dated August 18th 1950 laid in. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by E. McKinght Kauffer.

Not a novel in the usual sense of the word, Goyen described this, his first book, more as a series of arias. Upon its publications reviewers praised the Goyen for his unusual literary technique and style. Fellow author Stephen Spender said of the work, "William Goyen's The House of Breath is much more than a first novel of astonishing acheivement. It is also a further development of what has been the most fruitful discovery of novelists in this century: the invocation of and entry into the innermost existence of each one of a group of several characters...A profound sympathy with the humblest and poorest men and women combined with a great poetic insight constitute Mr. Goyen's wonderful and rare gift."