Rand, Ayn | We the Living, a rare presentation copy of the author's debut novel

Rand, Ayn

We the Living. New York: Macmillan, 1936

8vo. Publisher's tan cloth, lettered in blue; spine toned, covers lightly scratched and soiled. Facsimile dust jacket. Quarter morocco slipcase.

First edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author, "To DeWitt M. Emery— with great admiration— Ayn Rand 9-15-1941", with Emery's bookplate to pastedown.

The debut novel from the Russian-American novelist, the work takes place in post-revolutionary Russia some 14 years prior to the publication date and staunchly challenges communism. It is loosely based on Rand's personal experiences following the 1917 Russian Revolution—Rand and her family's property had been seized by the Bolsheviks. It was an enormously controversial subject for a novel, and the work was rejected by several publishers until Macmillan issued the present first edition in April 1936. It did not sell well and Macmillan destroyed the plates even before the first printing sold out. It was not until the 1950s, specifically when Atlas Shrugged achieved considerable commercial success, that a new edition was prepared.

DeWitt M. Emery was one of Rand's frequent correspondents and recipient of her latest books and other publications. Their shared political cause bound them as they campaigned against "the Reds". Following the presentation of this book in August 1941, Rand wrote a fervent letter to Emery about a political pamphlet they were writing together. In 1943, Rand sent Emery a copy of The Fountainhead, and asked Emery for "an intelligent Tory to back the book" as well as praising Lorine Pruette’s review of the book in the Sunday Times.

PROVENANCE:

Dewitt M. Emery (presentation copy and bookplate)