New York: Wynwood Press, 1989. First edition. Inscribed by John Grisham to the sister of Bubba Logan, his childhood friend: "To Donna Harper - Thanks for your friendship. Best Wishes - John Grisham - 6-29-89." A Very Good+ copy in like dust jacket. A bit of rubbing to spine lettering, a couple spots of discoloration to edges of closed text block, and two faint color pencil marks, one to the verso of the half-title and one to the lower pastedown. Dust jacket with some wear and chipping to corners, professionally closed on the verso, and a few scratches to back panel.

This copy was presented to Donna Harper, née Logan, the sister of Grisham's childhood friend Bubba Logan. Grisham met the Logans in Southaven, Mississippi, where he moved with his family at the age of four. Later, Grisham and Bubba Logan, along with their mutual friend Parker Pickle, roomed together throughout their time in college. According to Grisham, "Bubba was no doubt the ringleader...[He had] the quickest tongue, Parker the wickedest sense of humor. I could never keep up with them" (Clarion Ledger). The trio attended two local colleges together, then moved together to Mississippi State University and eventually the University of Mississippi, where Grisham attended law school. After the publication of Grisham's first novel, A Time to Kill, in 1989, he began sending inscribed copies of his novels to Logan and his family, including his parents and his sister; in the words of Logan's relative, the previous owner of the present book, "John knew everyone in the family. He always sent everyone signed copies." Grisham and Logan remained friends until Logan's death in 2016.

Grisham's debut novel, A Time to Kill, was inspired by his decade-long career as an attorney. Drawing on a harrowing case Grisham witnessed in 1984, the legal thriller reflects on innocence, vengeance, and race in the American legal system. Though the novel was not initially a hit, the publication of Grisham's breakout second novel, The Firm, by Doubleday in 1991 catapulted Grisham to fame 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) and The Client (1994). A Time to Kill was adapted for the screen in 1996 by Joel Schumacher with Samuel L. Jackson and Matthew McConaughey starring.

Provenance: From the collection of Bubba Logan's relative.

"John Grisham: College, Lawmaking, and A Time to Kill." Clarion Ledger (July 3, 2015). Very Good + in Very Good + dust jacket. (Item #8246)