inscribed by the author to his former student

A superb set of 5 works by John Updike, each inscribed by the author to his former student, Nicholas Delbanco. John Updike taught only one semester at Harvard and it was during that short time that he met Delbanco and became his mentor and friend. Later, in his 2011 book Lastingness: the Art of Old Age, Delbanco would consider his former professor alongside Verdi, Monet, Yeats, and others.

The set comprises: Pigeon Feathers. First edition, third printing. Inscribed to Delbanco and his wife: 'For Nick & Ellen, in their enchanted and exquisite Greenwich home. Love, John.'; The Music School. First edition, second issue; p.46 corrected and tipped in. Inscribed to Delbanco: 'If you want my opinion, this unjustly neglected book is my loveliest collection. John Updike.'; Hugging the Shore. First edition, first printing. Inscribed to Delbanco and his wife: 'for Nick and Ellen three pounds of prose Love, John P.S.: That's the vineyard in the background of the jacket'; Facing Nature. First edition, first printing. Inscribed to Delbanco and his wife: ' For Nick and Ellen with esteem and affection from way back John'; Memories of the Ford Administration. First trade edition, first printing; compliment slip from the author loosely inserted. Inscribed to Delbanco and his wife: 'For Nick + Ellen and all the midwest that they survey Love, John'.

First editions, mixed impressions, inscribed by the author; 5 vols, 8vo; unmarked internally; publisher's quarter cloth over paper-covered boards (vols I & II) and full cloth (vols III-V), unclipped dust-jackets, a couple of vols slightly toned at extremities, cloth faded at spines of vols I & III, else near-fine; housed in custom cloth chemises and matching slipcases.