Hangsaman.

New York: Farrar, Straus and Co.,, 1951. One is one and all alone and evermore will be so First edition, first printing, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "For Helen, with affection and admiration, Shirley, 1951". This title, Jackson's most autobiographical novel, is rare inscribed. Jackson was a master of horror writing whose personal forays into the occult were the subject of wide speculation. The biographical information that accompanied her debut novel was written by her husband, who noted that Jackson "is an authority on witchcraft and magic, has a remarkable private library of works in English on the subject, and is perhaps the only contemporary writer who is a practicing amateur witch, specializing in small-scale black magic and fortune-telling with a Tarot deck" (quoted by Temple). Hangsaman is a gothic tale of a young woman's descent into madness while studying at a liberal arts college. The shy protagonist retreats into an elaborate fantasy life, but her vivid imaginings fail to insulate her from an increasingly dangerous reality. The recipient of this copy was Dr Helen Phelps Bailey, Professor of French and Dean of Studies at Barnard College. She wrote the important study Hamlet in France from Voltaire to Laforgue (1964) and was awarded the Palmes Academiques by the French government for fostering French arts and culture. Octavo. Original blue cloth, geometric design on front cover and spine in black, lettering on spine and front cover in red. With dust jacket. Newspaper clipping loosely inserted. Covers and contents a little toned, spine ends and corners slightly bumped and worn; slight loss at foot of spine panel, a few small chips and short closed tears to edges, occasional spot of rubbing, a few spots, price-clipped with price inkstamped at foot of front flap: a very good copy in like jacket. Emily Temple, "Shirley Jackson: Possibly a Witch, Definitely Played the Zither", Lithub, 8 August 2018, available online.