Salinger Short Story "Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes" in its First Original Publication Format

Salinger, J.D.

Magazine

J.D. Salinger Short Story "Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes" in its Original First Publications format in the New Yorker July 14, 1951. This story was printed 2 years later in 1953, in book form as part of the collection "Nine Stories"by Little Brown. Although not completely explicit, the reader is left to infer that Joanie is the young girl with Lee as well as Arthur's spouse that's being searched for. This theme is even stretched to Salinger's own personal life, English Professor Dr. Brett Weaver argues, "Joanie is based on Salinger's one-time girlfriend Oona O'Neill who threw him over for Charlie Chaplin, and that 'Pretty' is Salinger's revenge for his broken heart." All three characters also display one of Salinger's main recurring themes: They are portrayed as phony throughout the story. Lee is having a phone conversation with his "friend" Arthur about his missing wife, when in reality she is with Lee. Arthur’s wife is listening in and pretending not to know the situation. Arthur himself is being phony too by contradicting himself about most his earlier comments in his last phone call to Lee after his wife comes home. Original Magazine very good except with light rubbing and creasing on covers. Scarce.

Item #17049

Price: $380.00