Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S
The Good Earth is a Pulitzer Prize
winning novel by Pearl S. Buck, an American writer who spent the bulk
of the first part of her life in China. Set in the Anhui Province
where Buck once lived, it chronicles the rise and fall of Wang Lung
and his family, portraying a realistic portrait of life in a Chinese Village prior to World War I. While not initially well received by
critics, the novel immediately became a bestseller and has since
been recognized as one of the most important 20th century
works of fiction. It was also notable for its role in preparing the
American public to accept the Chinese as allies later during World
War II. The novel was followed by two sequels, Sons and A House
Divided to complete the House of Earth Trilogy.
-
First Edition Identification
First published by John Day in 1931 in brown cloth and a tan dustwrapper with a simple scene of a furrowed field topped by a sun printed in brown ink, the first edition of this understated tome simply states the copyright date with no mention of subsequent printings. The first issue contains the phrase "For the John Day Publishing Company, Inc." on the copyright page, while the second state simply says "John Day Company" and is in fact more rare. There has also been some debate about the presence of either a brown or green topstain as being a point of issue, but that remains inconclusive.The original typed manuscript, which Buck wrote in 1929 while living in Nanking, was reportedly stolen in 1952 from an exhibit at the American Academy of Arts and Letters. It resurfaced in 2007 at auction and was reclaimed by the FBI.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Also of note, signed limited edition was reissued by John Day in 1965 in commemoration of the author's eightieth birthday, limited to 1000 copies.
Reviews
Review this book!
On Apr 12, 2011, sadie11 said
I really liked the book because it relates to me.
Available Copies
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THE GOOD EARTH (ADVANCE REVIEW) + TLS + CARD(mentioned)
by PEARL S. BUCK
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine OR BETTER
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Edition
- 1st Review Copy(1 of 125 Copies)
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hardcover Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hudson, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 20,689.50
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Description:
1ST EDITION, 1ST STATE(John Day Publishing Company) and all 1st issue points. Top stain, flees, John Day last page, if there are any others I bet it is in here. The glassine Dustjacket came with it(Wraps as stated by Ahearn & Blanck). Unmarked, unread, clean, square. Check the photos. The rear spine cloth may seem slightly loose(appearance), that is it… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 20,689.50
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The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - VG-
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Winston, Georgia, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 151.72
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Description:
New York: The John Day Company, 1931. 1st Edition . Hardcover. VG-. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. See photos for condition details. Hardcover, first edition with proper points ("flees" on page 100 & "publisher" on copyright page). Light brown cloth boards with gilt on front and spine. Exterior shows some scuffing and soiling along with… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 151.72
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The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket
- Edition
- First Edition First Printing
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
La Mesa, California, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 620.67
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Description:
New York, New York: John Day Company, 1931. First Edition First Printing . Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. Author's second novel, winner of the Pulitzer prize for fiction in 1932 & the first in what would evolve into a trilogy known as "The House of Earth." From 1931, this is a true FIRST EDITION, First State, with correct full… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 620.67
The Good Earth.
by Buck, Pearl S
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1931
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 27,586.00
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Description:
New York: John Day, 1931. First edition, first issue with "flees" for "fleas" on page 100, line 17 of the author's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and masterpiece. Octavo, original brown cloth, illustrated endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed and dated by Pearl Buck on the half-title page. Buck also underlined the error "flees" on page 100, and marked it with an arrow… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 27,586.00
The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Good with no dust jacket
- Edition
- 1st Edition. Second Printing
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hard Cover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Palatine, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 344.82
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Description:
New York: The John Day Company. Good with no dust jacket. 1931. 1st Edition. Second Printing. Hard Cover. First edition, second issue ('Flees' rather than 'fleas' on page 100; "For the John Day Company, Inc." on copyright page; top edge stained brown). Publisher's full brown cloth, gilt lettering and medalion on spine and cover, t.e.g. (brown), fore-edge… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 344.82
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THE GOOD EARTH (1ST ED/1ST STATE)
by PEARL S. BUCK
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- NONE
- Edition
- 1ST PRINTING
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- HARD COVER, CLOTH
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hudson, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 275.86
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Description:
BROWN CLOTH WITH GOLD LETTERING. Click for Photos...The covers are sun faded but not to bad, the darker shadows on the front and back covers shows the extent. There is an inscription by previous owner, not author. That is it as far as defects as the photos show. The end papers are totally intact, the book is tight, clean, and… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 275.86
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The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- First British Edition
- Published
- 1931
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 4,827.55
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Description:
London: Methuen & Co. LTD, 1931. First British Edition. Near Fine/Near Fine. First British edition, first printing of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Bound in publisher's original cloth. Near Fine with light fading to spine, a small ding to top and bottom edge of upper board. In a Near Fine dust jacket with light edge wear. Item Price
SGD 4,827.55
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The Good Earth.
by Buck, Pearl S
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1931
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Palm Beach, Florida, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 12,689.56
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Description:
London: Methuen & Co., 1931. Over eighty years have passed since The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize, it has retained its popularity and become one of the great modern classics. "I can only write what I know, and I know nothing but China, having always lived there," wrote Pearl Buck. In The Good Earth she presents a graphic… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 12,689.56
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The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - VG
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
United States, Arkansas, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 165.52
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Description:
A soft cover copy of The Good Earth in Very Good Condition.
Published by Cardinal. Item Price
SGD 165.52
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The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1931
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, GBR
- Item Price
-
SGD 3,174.78
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Description:
London: Methuen, 1931. A first edition, first printing published by Methuen in 1931. A near fine book without inscriptions with some light spotting to the page edge. In a near fine wrapper which has a small hole to the rear fold. Some light wear to the edges. The Good Earth won the Pulitzer Prize for the author. It has… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 3,174.78
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The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Good-
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Brown, embossed, gold lettering
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 40.00
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Description:
Paper in good condition; some water stains on page edges (please see photo). No tears, no markings, all pages flat.
Cover in very good condition featuring gold lettering and embossed front cover. Item Price
SGD 40.00
The Good Earth
by BUCK, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Published
- 1977
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 620.68
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Description:
Franklin Station, Pennsylvania: Franklin Library, 1977. Hardcover. Fine. First edition with these illustrations. Illustrated by Anthony Young Chen. Full gray cloth stamped "RECORD AND REFERENCE COPY" on the front board and spine. All edges gilt. Slight wear, else fine. Presumably one of very few, or perhaps the only copy thus (as opposed to the thousands of leather bound… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 620.68
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The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - Good-
- Jacket Condition
- None
- Edition
- First Edition, 22nd Printing
- Published
- April, 1932
- Binding
- Hardcover lacking dust jacket.
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Winfield, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 41.37
Show Details
Description:
Page 100 has the corrected version of fleas. Water stain at bottom, one page bottom also creased. No writing. End papers illustrated with about an inch or so tear in the back ripped. Untrimmed leaves. Top edge dyed green but faded. Backstrip bent with water stain. Stains on boards. End caps very worn. Book is complete. Item Price
SGD 41.37
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The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Winston, Georgia, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 186.21
Show Details
Description:
New York: The John Day Company, 1931. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. See photos for condition details. Hardcover, first edition with proper points ("flees" on page 100 & "publisher" on copyright page). Light brown cloth boards with gilt on front and spine. Exterior shows some scuffing and soiling though… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 186.21
THE GOOD EARTH
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 29th printing
- Published
- 1935
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Dayton, Ohio, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 20.69
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Description:
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1935. 29th printing. Hardcover. 375p. A brown cloth hardcover book in good condition. Spine ends and corners wearing through and starting to fray. Some mild foxing inside. Binding has clearly been handled but is still secure for reading purposes. Item Price
SGD 20.69
THE GOOD EARTH
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used - Fine with no dust jacket
- Published
- 1949
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Overland Park, Kansas, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 36.41
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Description:
International Collectors Library. Fine with no dust jacket. 1949. Hardcover. First thus editon. Bound in the Rafael Palacios faux leather binding with the scarce International Collectors library notes sheet laid in the book. Free of former owner writing or bookplates. Top edge is gilt along with gilt design/lettering to front board and spine. Publisher's attached ribbon… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 36.41
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The Good Earth
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First edition
- Published
- 1931
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 27,586.00
Show Details
Description:
New York: The John Day Publishing Company, 1931. First edition. First edition, first printing, first issue with "The John Day Publishing Company, Inc." on copyright page. Error "flees" that was present in the first three printings on p. 100, line 17. [vi], 375, [1] pp. Bound in publisher's brown cloth with gilt lettering, green topstain and green illustrated endpapers.… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 27,586.00
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THE GOOD EARTH
by Buck, Pearl S.
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 151.72
Show Details
Description:
New York: The John Day Company, 1931. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Octavo, 375 pages. In Good condition, lacking dust jacket. Bound in brown cloth with worn gilt lettering on spine and front cover. Boards have rubbing to corners, wear to lettering, and bending to spine edges. Textblock has bookplate on front pastedown, light age toning, and splitting to… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 151.72
The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - Collectible; Very Good
- Published
- 1931
- Binding
- Cloth
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Waccabuc, New York, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 413.79
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Description:
London: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1931. Cloth. Collectible; Very Good. The 1931 1st UK edition. Solid and VG in its tan cloth, with light foxing to the preliminaries and edges. 12mo, 339 pgs. plus publisher's ads. Also includes a custom-made full-morocco slipcase, with folding chemise.
Item Price
SGD 413.79
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The Good Earth
by Pearl S. Buck
- Condition
- Used - GOOD/VERY GOOD
- Published
- 1940
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Libertyville, Illinois, USA
- Item Price
-
SGD 25.56
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Description:
Triangle Books, 1940. Hardcover. GOOD/VERY GOOD. Hardcover. No Dust Jacket. Condition: Good/very good. Triangle Books Copyright 1939 - Fourth Printing (1940). BLACK EMBOSSED graphic on cover of green cloth cover, with some wear on spine, slight bumping to tips of boards and a small stain on lower spine side of back cover. 318pg body is browned with age,… Read more about this item Item Price
SGD 25.56