Birdman of Alcatraz: The Story of Robert Stroud.

GADDIS, Thomas E.

$1,200.00

Item Number: 138123

New York : Random House, 1955.

First edition of this work, basis for the classic film starring Burt Lancaster, Karl Malden and Thelma Ritter. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, ” Best- Thomas E. Gaddis August 7, 1958.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket, with the Ingo Perminger Agency stamp to the front free endpaper. Jacket design by Harvey Gabor. First editions are uncommon signed, and with noted provenance.

This is the fantastic story of a self-taught authority who has endured over half a lifetime in a solitary prison cell - a man among the breathing dead who filled his solitude with the electric vitality of living birds. Termed by a penologist "the Robinson Crusoe of all prison books," Birdman of Alcatraz is one of the great enigmas of world prison history. It was the basis for the 1962 film directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Burt Lancaster), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Telly Savalas), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Thelma Ritter) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White.