New York: Doubleday, 1995. First edition. Presentation copy, inscribed by John Grisham to the literary agent who launched his career: "To Jay Garon - Agent extraordinaire! John Grisham April 11, 1995." A Fine copy in like dust jacket.

Jay Garon (1924 - 1995) was a literary agent best known for his professional partnership with the author John Grisham, which saw the publication of Grisham's first six novels and brought massive commercial success to both men. Their partnership began when Grisham sent unsolicited chapters of his first novel, A Time to Kill, to nearly thirty agents; only Garon saw the potential in the work and called him back. Though the novel did not immediately gain traction – after fifteen publishers rejected the title, Garon finally placed it with the fairly obscure Wynwood Press – Garon continued to champion Grisham's work. Two years later, Garon secured publication with Doubleday for Grisham's second novel, The Firm (1991), which became a massive hit and prompted Doubleday to reissue A Time to Kill in 1993. The Firm began a run of dozens of bestselling novels and numerous film adaptations, including The Pelican Brief (1993), The Client (1994), and A Time to Kill (1996). Garon's advocacy in the early years of Grisham's career was essential, and it was through their partnership that Grisham reached the heights of literary fame that he has seen over the past three and a half decades.

The Rainmaker, Grisham's sixth novel (and the last published before Garon's death), follows a disillusioned law student who represents a poor family in their fight against an insurance company. A contemporary Los Angeles Times review called it a novel of "durable American themes: distrust of big business, paranoia about the federal government, the perfidy of lawyers, the power of love and the tarnished honor of gangsters," which "Grisham handles...with admirable and impressive dexterity and clarity." The novel quickly sold three million copies and was adapted into a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola with Matt Damon, Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, and Danny Glover in the leading roles.

Provenance from the estate of Gary Sullivan, Jay Garon's longtime partner, through Sullivan's acquaintance and fellow Fire Island resident.

"Jay S. Garon; Literary Agent for John Grisham." Los Angeles Times (August 28, 1995).
"J. S. Garon, 71, Literary Agent Who Saw Talent Others Didn't." New York Times (August 25, 1995). Fine in Fine dust jacket. (Item #8199)