New York: New Directions, 1949. First American edition. A Fine copy of the book in Near Fine dust jacket. Book clean and bright. Jacket with very slight wear at the extremities, but overall a bright, sharp copy. Housed in a custom clamshell case.

Bowles’ stunning first novel, published in 1949. Bowles was 38 when the novel was released and living as an expat in Morocco. The book, which follows a married couple vacationing in North Africa in an attempt to repair their marriage, was praised by writer Tobias Wolff as “one of the most original, even visionary, works of fiction to appear in this century.” “The Sheltering Sky” is included on both Time Magazine’s list of 100 best English Language Novels from 1923-2005 and The Modern Library list as well. It appeared on the New York Times bestseller list when it was released and was adapted into a 1990 film, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and starring John Malkovich. In a contemporary review in the New York Times, playwright Tennessee Williams wrote: “…and the end of this novel is as wildly beautiful and terrifying as the whole panorama that its protagonists have crossed.” Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. (Item #5598)