WOLFE, Tom “Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine” [Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1976]

WOLFE, Tom. Mauve Gloves & Madmen, Clutter & Vine.

New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1976. First edition, first printing. 8vo. Signed by Wolfe on the front free endpaper. Publisher’s black cloth; original illustrated dust jacket; jacket unclipped ($8.95). Slight toning to page edges; minor bumping to spine ends. Jacket lightly rubbed with mild edge wear. Near Fine.

A collection of essays, sketches, and reportage pieces written during the 1970s, many first appearing in magazines such as Rolling Stone, Harper’s, and Esquire. The book ranges widely in subject—from cultural commentary and literary criticism to profiles of contemporary figures and examinations of American social habits—while showcasing Wolfe’s trademark blend of satire, immersive reporting, and exuberant prose. The title essay reflects Wolfe’s fascination with status symbols and shifting social codes, themes that run throughout his work and helped define his reputation as one of the leading practitioners of New Journalism.