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The Poorhouse Fair · Rabbit, Run

The Poorhouse Fair · Rabbit, Run

$17.99 USD
$17.99 USD
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Condition: Very Good

Condition Notes: Cover shows minor shelf wear with a stain on the front cover. Pages are clean and in great shape. Binding is tight.

Author(s): John Updike
Edition: Modern Library

Binding: Hardcover

Language: English

Publisher: Random House

ISBN:

This highly praised single-volume omnibus compiles John Updike's first two brilliant novels, offering a sharp, unvarnished look at the social anxieties and spiritual stagnation of post-war small-town America. The collection opens with The Poorhouse Fair, a futuristic, allegorical story set in a New Jersey home for the aged, tracking the silent friction and ideological clashes that erupt over a single day between the eccentric, fiercely independent elderly residents and their highly clinical, progressive young prefect who values bureaucratic efficiency over human tradition. This is paired with Rabbit, Run, a foundational landmark of contemporary realism that tracks the frantic, chaotic flight of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, a twenty-six-year-old former high school basketball star trapped in a suffocating, dull marriage and a dead-end sales job in Pennsylvania. Abruptly abandoning his pregnant, alcoholic wife, the protagonist sets out on a desperate, aimless road trip to reclaim a sense of exceptionalism, triggering a series of intense domestic collapses, tragic accidents, and messy romantic entanglements. Together, these beautifully written texts function as an essential historical archive of mid-century disillusionment, evaluating how individual desire, spiritual panic, and the search for freedom collide with the rigid conformity of modern societal expectations.

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Book Condition Scale

  • Like New

    This book is in excellent condition and appears to have been read only once. The pages are clean and unmarked, with no creases or stains. The binding remains firm and tight. There may be minimal signs of shelf wear on the cover or dust jacket, but overall, the book looks and feels nearly new.

  • Very Good

    This book has been read but remains in great condition. It does not look new, yet there is no obvious damage to the cover. Wear and tear are minimal. The pages are clean, free of highlighting or notes, though it may contain identifying marks from a previous owner or bookstore.

  • Good

    This book shows moderate to heavy signs of wear that can include creases, stains or tears. The cover may have minimal damage, and the binding remains intact with slight wear. The majority of pages are undamaged, though there may be some highlighting, underlining, or notes. It may also contain identifying marks from a previous owner or bookstore.

  • Acceptable

    This book shows significant wear, which may include tears, large stains, creases, loose pages, and heavy notes, underlining, or highlighting. The binding may be loose but remains intact. While it has noticeable imperfections, it is still a complete and readable copy. Any major defects will be clearly noted in the listing.

  • As Is

    This book is visibly worn and may be heavily soiled, scuffed, stained, or spotted. It may have loose joints, hinges, or pages, and some text or pages may be missing. Large tears and other significant defects may be present. While still a readable copy, it shows substantial signs of use. Any major flaws will be clearly noted in the listing.

  • Dust Jacket Grading

    (A) Excellent
    The dust jacket is in excellent condition, may show the slightest signs of shelf wear, if any.

    (B) Good
    Shows minor shelf wear, usually along edges and may have a few light stains.

    (C) Fair
    Displays moderate shelf wear, including some noticeable small tears, creasing and/or stains.

    (D) Poor
    Contains large tears, several creases, and/or heavy staining.

    (F) As Is
    Shows significant wear and tear. Majority of dust jacket is torn or missing. May contain heavy staining.