The Right Stuff, Signed by Tom Wolfe, First Edition in Original Dust Jacket, 1979

Wolfe, Tom. The Right Stuff. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1979. First Edition. Signed by the author at the half-title. Octavo. In original cloth boards, titled in red, blue, and silver, and original publisher's dust jacket. 

Presented is a first edition printing of Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff. In his book, Wolfe explores the Mercury Project, NASA's first manned space missions, and the origins of the astronaut program. This book was published in New York by Farrar, Straus, Giroux, in 1979. It is signed by Wolfe with a dramatic paraph on the half title page, in black felt tipped ink. The book is presented in the publisher’s original cloth boards, with red, blue, and silver stamped titles to the spine, and the original publisher’s dust jacket. 

In 1972, journalist Tom Wolfe covered the launch of the final Moon mission, Apollo 17, for Rolling Stone. He wrote a four-part article about the astronauts for the magazine, entitled “Post-Orbital Remorse,” which appeared in Rolling Stone throughout 1973. After his piece was completed, Wolfe was still curious about the emotional and psychological bravery required to rocket into space, and so he began researching a broader history of the United States’ human spaceflight program. Throughout much of the 1970’s Wolfe worked on the research and writing for his book. 

In his foreword, Wolfe notes that as late as 1970, almost one in four career Navy pilots died in accidents. "The Right Stuff," he explains, "became a story of why men were willing--willing?--delighted!--to take on such odds in this, an era literary people had long since characterized as the age of the anti-hero." Focusing on the earliest American human spaceflights of Project Mercury and writing 15 years after the events themselves, Wolfe had the benefit of hindsight, archives, and first-hand recollections to help him answer that question. Wolfe interviewed test pilots, the astronauts, and their wives, among other experts in the field of space, flight, and psychology. 

The book was well received by critics upon publication in 1979. It was hailed as “one of the most romantic and thrilling books ever written about men who put themselves in peril." (The Boston Globe).  It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and won the National Book Award for Nonfiction. This book is listed by Modern Library as one of the top 100 nonfiction works of the twentieth century.

CONDITION: 

Very good condition. Octavo. In original cloth boards, titled in red, blue, and silver gilt, and original publisher's dust jacket. Faint scuffs and stains to dust jacket and boards, otherwise very clean and healthy bindings. The book is signed by the author at the half-title, in black felt-tipped pen. The inscription reads, “To John, Tom Wolfe” with a dramatic paraph. Inscription is legible, without smears of fading. Interior pages are clean, without stains or marks. 

Dimensions: 8 1/2" H x 5 7/8" W x 1 5/8" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.