Leila by J.P. Donleavy (RARE, SIGNED FIRST EDITION), 1983 📜✍️🎩

 

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare and a significant signed first edition of Leila, a captivating work of fiction by the celebrated Irish-American author J.P. Donleavy. Published in 1983 by The Franklin Library, this book is a primary historical document that captures the unique voice and satirical wit of a literary master. As a signed first edition, this volume is a premier acquisition for any serious collector of modern literature, satire, or books with a documented provenance.

• The book is a compelling and deeply humanizing portrait of a young woman who uses her wit and charm to navigate the social world.
  

• The Franklin Library's letter to the collector emphasizes the historical context of Donleavy's writing and the enduring legacy of his work.

 

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Leila is a satirical novel that continues the story of Darcy Dancer, the young Irish aristocrat from Donleavy’s earlier work, The Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman. In this narrative, Dancer, fleeing a life of dissipation in Dublin, finds himself in a dilapidated mansion with a “hare-brained servant staff”. The novel is a compelling look at love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships, filled with Donleavy's signature dark humor and keen observations.

• The book's classic Franklin Library design, with its full-leather binding and marbled endpapers, is a testament to the high-quality publishing of the era.
  

• The original frontispiece portrait by Stan Hunter adds to the visual and historical appeal of the book.

 

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

J.P. Donleavy (1926-2017) was a celebrated Irish-American author, short story writer, and playwright, known for his dark humor and original treatment of literary voice. He first achieved critical acclaim with his picaresque novel The Ginger Man, a work that became an international bestseller and was named one of the "100 Best Novels of the 20th Century" by the Modern Library.

• Donleavy was born in Brooklyn, New York, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before moving to Ireland to study bacteriology at Trinity College Dublin. He later became an Irish citizen in 1967.

• His works, including A Fairy Tale of New York and The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B, are distinguished by their alliterative prose and characters who are deeply attached to life despite its flaws.

• The Franklin Library, a publisher of deluxe, signed first editions, worked with Donleavy to produce this book. The company's letter to the collector provides unique insights into Donleavy’s life and artistic process.

 

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜 Published in 1983, this book is a "time capsule" of the late 20th century, a period of immense social change and a cultural shift towards a new brand of social satire. The book's narrative, with its focus on the misadventures of an Irish aristocrat, reflects the themes of alienation and the challenges facing the "high-spirited and highly cultivated aristocracy" of post-war Ireland.

 

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of modern literature, a scholar of satire, or a private collector of unique first editions. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's historical significance and its documented personal history. The author's signature makes this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind an artifact. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of literature and social commentary.

• A true bibliophile would appreciate the high-quality binding and the rich intellectual history contained within its pages.
  

 

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare signed first edition, this book represents a genuinely scarce non-replicable asset class. First editions of a popular and well-regarded author, especially those that are personally signed and limited, are highly sought after and difficult to find in good condition. The price is a direct reflection of the book's enduring cultural influence, its physical integrity, and the scarcity of a signed copy.

• The book's value as a literary and physical artifact makes it a strong acquisition.
  

• This is a unique and non-replicable asset class that is unlikely to reappear on the market for years to come.

 

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is in pristine, collector-grade condition.

• The book is a deluxe edition with a full-leather binding, gilded page edges, and elaborate decorative motifs on the cover and spine.

• The original marbled endpapers are intact and vibrant.

• The book has been well cared for over the years and remains in a functional, readable state.

 

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book is a signed edition from The Franklin Library and is personally signed by J.P. Donleavy. The signature is in black ink and is a clean, bold example of Donleavy’s handwriting. The frontispiece portrait is the work of Stan Hunter.

• This limited first edition was published by special arrangement with Seymour Lawrence, Delacorte Press, and Penguin Books Ltd..
  

 

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Donleavy's most famous novel, The Ginger Man, was banned in Ireland and the United States due to its controversial and "outspoken and comic lewdness".

• The book was praised for its "original treatment of voice".

• Donleavy was a recipient of the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to Irish literature in 2015.

• A line from Donleavy's novel A Fairy Tale of New York provided the title for the famous song "Fairytale of New York".

• The book is a true record of a man who lived a life of extraordinary personal and intellectual freedom.

 

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Leila: Further in the Life and Destinies of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman

• Author/Maker: J.P. Donleavy

• Year: 1983

• Publisher/Foundry: The Franklin Library, Delacorte Press

• Place of Origin: Franklin Center, Pennsylvania

• Format/Binding: Signed First Edition, Full Leather

• Edition: Signed Limited First Edition

• Rarity: Rare, Signed
  
  

Letter from the Publisher: The Franklin Library 📜✍️🏛️

This book includes a letter from the publisher, Joseph Sloves of The Franklin Library, which serves as a detailed and engaging overview of the novel. The letter provides a unique insight into the author's work, creative process, and personal connection to the story.

• Introduction to the Author and Character: The letter introduces J.P. Donleavy, "already internationally celebrated for The Ginger Man," and his returning character, Darcy Dancer. Dancer is described as a "charming, picaresque scamp" whose new misadventures in the novel Leila are "prepared for episode upon episode of boisterous misadventure".

• Plot and Themes: The publisher summarizes the plot, noting that Darcy Dancer flees a life of dissipation in Dublin for his ancestral estate, Andromeda Park, only to find it in a dilapidated state with a "hare-brained servant staff". The letter explains that beneath the "bawdy escapades" lies a "sober chord" that touches upon the decline of a "high-spirited and highly cultivated aristocracy". The letter also highlights the theme of "alienation" that runs throughout Donleavy's works.

• Donleavy's Connection to Ireland: The letter addresses Donleavy’s background as a "Brooklyn-born" author who lived in Ireland for nearly thirty years. The publisher notes that Donleavy found "a kindred spirit" in the Irish countryside, which enabled him to bring the landscape and the "dynamics of Irish life" alive in his writing. The letter concludes by stating that Donleavy returned to Ireland to sign the First Edition of Leila for Franklin Library collectors.