A Daring Coiffeur: Reflections on Tolstoy's War and Peace and Anna Karenina [ Anne Rice's Personal Copy ]

Elizabeth Gunn

London: Chatto & Windus Ltd, 1971. First Edition. Hardcover cloth and boards. Item #5229
ISBN: 0701117540

First Edition of this title with errata note pasted to contents page. Dust jacket presents with multiple chips and tears, though now in a protective cover. Book shows sunning discoloration around purple cloth edges and some bumping to spine head and tail. Clean spine with bright gold gilt displaying title. Clean text body and tightly bound.

From the personal library of Anne Rice, with Anne's full signature on the front free endpaper, dated "Oct 13, 2017" and location noted as "La Quinta." Anne Rice's handwritten annotations can be found throughout this edition, primarily in the early sections. Rice, known for her rigorous research and admiration of classic literature, often praised the genius of Leo Tolstoy. In this volume, she offers nearly 50 pages of insightful commentary, written in the margins of the text, often sounding as if she is dialoguing with the author of the text, delving into the themes, motifs, historical context and symbolism of Tolstoy’s work. Interestingly, she frequently disagrees with the author's interpretation of Tolstoy and staunchly defends him throughout the margins. Rice consistently dated her notes, almost anchoring her reflections to precise moments, providing the reader with a timeline of her spiritual and intellectual process. Quite romantic.

A unique glimpse into Rice’s personal appreciation for Tolstoy, as well as an insight into her research and writing process. An uncommon item for a Tolstoy or Anne Rice collector, very much one of its kind.

Out of stock