Comparing editions of Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet

NOT LONG AGO my dad passed along to me his copy of Lawrence Durrell's Alexandria Quartet, the universally acclaimed 20th century tetralogy that explores contrasted perspectives of a romance set within the dying embers of the storied Levantine center. I attribute so much of my connection to books to growing up in a house full of them, literally cheek to spine with them since crawling age when almost certainly the physical attributes of books as objects, e.g. color, typeface and cover art, began to etch my senses. Because the A.Q. is renowned mid-century lit these attractive volumes had (but weren't alone in having) some presence on the family bookshelves. And after they landed on mine I was happily surprised to discover they were US (Dutton) first editions. The boxed collection was released in 1961. 

The original UK Faber first edition illustrated jackets are just as beautiful.

 

 

Then there are the Faber and Dutton trade paperback editions:

 

And finally, early mass market covers by Cardinal clearly stamped with imagery that might be thought of as Levantine in a Hollywood kind of way.

 

The Mohawk Valley - Gateway to the West

The Mohawk Valley -  Gateway to the West, by Nelson Greene, has no trouble qualifying as a set of tomes and a masterpiece of American historical chronicle, including extensive geological commentary. For anyone immersed in travels through New York or recreating in its abundant and scenic highlands, lithic formations, valleys and woodlands, the first four chapters are a fascinating reference. Rare as it is I did come across the set pictured here in a north Pennsylvania second hand bookstore but couldn't even begin to entertain the $900.00 "bargain" rate tag. No worries though - the entire history is available online at the Schenectady Digital History Archive. Click here to link to it: History of the Mohawk Valley