Serenade

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1937. Second printing. INSCRIBED by the author in the year after publication: "To Miriam Geiger / In memory of pleasant times / James M. Cain / Feb 17, 1938."

Jacket art by W. A. Dwiggins. One of Cain's least-appreciated novels, a hard-boiled story about a dethroned opera singer who meets the love of his life while wasting away in rural Mexico, then attempts a return to fame. Basis for the 1956 film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Mario Lanza and Joan Fontaine. .

Very Good or better in a bright, Very Good plus example of the purple-and-red variant of the dust jacket (there are three different color variants, no priority). Slight spine lean, Some brief chipping to the cloth at the crown, light bumping to the spine ends. Jacket spine lightly toned, else bright and colorful, with a few tiny closed tears and a few tiny nicks at the spine ends. An attractive copy.

[Book #143648]