Alias Grace Signed First Edition 1996 Margaret Atwood Hardcover

📖 Margaret Atwood Signed First Edition “Alias Grace” — 1996 Giller Prize Winner
*Inscribed copy with contemporary New York Times Book Review article laid in*

**THE NOVEL**

Published in December 1996, Alias Grace is Margaret Atwood’s historical fiction masterpiece set in 1840s Canada. Based on the true story of Grace Marks, a young Irish immigrant servant convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper, the novel weaves together courtroom drama, psychological mystery, and Victorian-era social commentary. It won the inaugural Giller Prize, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and Governor General’s Award, and earned Atwood Italy’s Premio Mondello.

**THE STORY**

Told through alternating first-person narrative and documentary fragments — letters, diary entries, trial transcripts — the novel follows Dr. Simon Jordan, a physician who visits Grace in prison to determine if she’s fit for a pardon. As Grace recounts her life story, the line between truth and invention blurs. The Netflix miniseries adaptation (2017), directed by Mary Harron and written by Sarah Polley, brought renewed attention to the book, starring Sarah Gadon as Grace Marks alongside Edward Holcroft, Zachary Levi, and David Cronenberg.

**COVER AND DESIGN**

The first American edition dust jacket, published by Nan A. Talese/Double-day, features a distinctive metallic gold design. The cover art shows a woman’s face rendered in sketch-like tones of yellow and brown, partially obscured behind vertical black bars — evoking both imprisonment and the novel’s central mystery of hidden identity. The spine carries gilt lettering on dark brown boards. Inside, the title page bears Atwood’s handwritten inscription in black ink: “To Ruth — Best Wishes — Margaret Atwood.” The pages are cream-colored with clear serif type, and the book includes a publisher’s tree logo on the copyright page.

**WHY IT MATTERS**

– First American edition, first printing (December 1996, Nan A. Talese/Double-day) with full number line
– Signed and inscribed by Margaret Atwood on the title page
– Laid-in New York Times Book Review article from December 29, 1996, covering the book’s release
– Giller Prize winner (1996), Booker Prize finalist, Governor General’s Award finalist
– Adapted into the acclaimed 2017 Netflix/CBC miniseries

**FOR COLLECTORS**

Atwood is known as a generous signer at book events, but inscribed first editions of her award-winning novels remain highly sought after. This copy carries extra provenance with the contemporary NYT Book Review clipping — the original owner purchased this book at launch and had it signed, then preserved the review alongside it for nearly three decades.

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This is a “very good” vintage hardcover in pictorial wraps. No loose, torn or folded pages, aside from an inscription by Ms. Atwood: “To Ruth – Best Wishes – Margaret Atwood”, no writing. Binding hinges are intact, not split, text block closes tightly. Board corners are crisp, minimal to no wear at tips. Inside the front cover, the original owner has laid in a page from the New York Times Book Review dated December 29, 1996, with a full page article discussing the release of this, Ms. Atwood’s then, latest novel. The years have allowed the newsprint to tan the inside endpaper where is has lived these decades. The text block edges are relatively bright and uniform in color all around. Small chip in the surface at the front upper spine edge.

Matching vintage dust jacket is not clipped, no writing or marks. Some minor surface and edge wear, most so along spine head. Now protected in a removable archival sleeve.

See accompanying images for full condition details.

Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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