Twilight Sleep — Edith Wharton, D. Appleton 1927

📖 Twilight Sleep by Edith Wharton (1927, D. Appleton and Company) — a Jazz Age satirical novel examining the wealthy Manford family’s search for meaning through spiritualism and self-indulgence. This first edition hardcover features illustrated endpapers signed “M.T.” and shows gentle age-appropriate wear on the purple cloth boards with gilt lettering.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Edith Wharton (1862–1938), Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist
• Publisher: D. Appleton and Company, New York
• Year: 1927 (First Edition, stated copyright 1927 by D. Appleton and Company; MCMXXVII on title page)
• Format: Hardcover in original dark purple cloth with gilt lettering and decorative butterfly emblem
• Pages: 372 | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: Very Good- to Very Good — full report below

THE STORY

Twilight Sleep satirizes the lives and relationships of an extended dysfunctional family navigating 1920s New York high society. The novel follows Pauline Manford’s self-inflicted busy schedule, her daughter Nona’s Jazz Age flapper lifestyle, and the family’s collective attempts to save a troubled marriage through spiritualism and avoidance of pain — themes that would later influence Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

THIS EDITION

This is the true first edition, first printing, published by D. Appleton and Company in 1927. The title page bears the publisher’s imprint and the Roman numeral MCMXXVII (1927), while the copyright page confirms the 1927 copyright held by D. Appleton and Company. The novel was initially serialized in the Pictorial Review from February to May 1927, illustrated by C.J. McCarthy, before appearing in book form later that year.

COVER ART / ILLUSTRATIONS / DESIGN

The book is bound in dark purple cloth boards with gilt lettering for the title “TWILIGHT SLEEP” and author name “EDITH WHARTON” across the upper front cover. A prominent gold decorative emblem — a stylized butterfly or moth with intricate wing patterns — sits below the author’s name. The spine shows toning from purple to brown with gilt lettering reading “TWILIGHT SLEEP / EDITH WHARTON / APPLETON” vertically. The front endpapers feature black ink sketch illustrations of outdoor landscapes signed “M.T.”, visible in the interior images. The text block shows mild age-toning with clean interiors and no significant foxing.

WHY IT MATTERS

• #1 bestseller two months after publication, finished 1927 as the #7 bestselling novel in America
• Wharton’s concern with technological “quick fixes” for human suffering directly inspired Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World
• Early modernist novel employing shifting narrative perspectives to examine characters’ self-identities and relationships in the Jazz Age

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? This is the true first edition, first printing, published by D. Appleton and Company in 1927 as confirmed by the copyright page and title page.

What condition is it in? Very Good- to Very Good — dark purple cloth boards show surface wear and light spotting; spine cloth toned to brown with dulled gilt lettering; corners bumped and worn through to board at tips; pages lightly age-toned with clean interiors; front hinge starting, back hinge about half length but closes tight and square.

Are the illustrated endpapers present? Yes, the front endpapers feature black ink sketch illustrations of outdoor scenes signed “M.T.” as visible in the interior page images.

FOR COLLECTORS

This first edition hardcover represents Wharton’s critically praised bestseller that captured the essence of Jazz Age disillusionment. The illustrated endpapers signed “M.T.” add artistic interest, while the publisher’s cloth binding with gilt lettering exemplifies 1920s middle-market hardcover design.

Twilight Sleep
A 1927 novel by Edith Wharton, *Twilight Sleep* offers a satirical look at Jazz Age high society in New York.
The story examines a wealth-blinded family seeking refuge in spiritualism and self-indulgence to avoid harsh realities.
This early edition presents classic social critique from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

#### **Book Details**
* **Author:** Edith Wharton
* **Illustrator:** Uncredited (Illustrated endpapers signed M.T.)
* **Publisher:** D. Appleton and Company
* **Binding:** HARDCOVER
* **Edition Points:** First Edition (stated copyright 1927 by D. Appleton and Company; MCMXXVII on title page).

#### **Condition Report**
* **Overall Grade:** Very Good- (VG-) / Very Good (VG)
* **Cover & Spine:** Dark purple cloth boards show some surface wear and light spotting in places; spine cloth is toned to a brown hue with dulled gilt lettering. Board corners are bumped and worn through to board at tips.
* **Text Block & Pages:** Lightly age-toned pages with clean interiors. Illustrated endpapers.
* **Binding:** Front hinge starting, back hinge about 1/2 the length.  Closes tight and square.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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