HERBS AND APPLES

New York: Harper & Row, 1985. Hardcover. Very Good/Good Plus to Very Good. Santmyer is best known as the author of "And Ladies of the Club," a 1982 bestseller that brought her to national attention when she was in her eighties and living in a nursing home. "Herbs And Apples" is Santmyer's first novel, originally published in 1925. It is the largely autobiographical story of a young woman, Derrick Thornton, who intends to be a "great writer" and works at that goal at home in Ohio, at college in Massachusetts and at a job in NYC before WWI and love changes her plans. After the success of "And Ladies of the Club," "Herbs and Apples" was published a second time in 1985 by Harper & Row. This copy is from the 1985 issue, a first printing from the first book club edition. About 6 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches, 330 pages in blue paper-covered boards with tan backstrip and blue lettering on spine. Author's initials stamped on lower right front corner. The front panel of the light tan dustjacket shows a cameo color illustration of a young woman against a blue background. All lettering on front panel and spine is blue. Back panel has b & w photo of aging author correcting proofs. Boards and text are complete and unmarked, binding is firm. Back end pages show 3 or 4 tiny stains, text edges lightly soiled. No tears, creases, chips or scratches. Dustjacket's spine has faded to near white and dj shows some surface wear with light bumping at spine ends. No tears or chipping.