John Barleycorn by Jack London
Grosset & Dunlap, New York · Stated First Printing (August 1913) · Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket
Overview
Offered here is a scarce early Grosset & Dunlap printing of John Barleycorn by Jack London, complete with its original dust jacket—a survival that is increasingly uncommon for books of this era. First published in 1913, this essential (and largely autobiographical) work traces London’s lifelong relationship with alcohol: the camaraderie, the ritual, the social ease—and the darker underside of dependency, despair, and loss of control.
About the Book
Taking its title from the old folk figure “John Barleycorn” (a personification of alcohol), London follows his own path from youth through seafaring life and literary success, examining how drinking becomes woven into identity, friendships, and ambition—and how it gradually turns on the drinker. For collectors of recovery history and alcoholism literature, John Barleycorn stands as one of the most important early 20th-century literary treatments of alcohol’s psychological and emotional grip.
Edition Details
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Title: John Barleycorn
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Author: Jack London
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Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, New York
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Printing: Stated First Printing (August 1913) (per the book’s printing statement)
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Format: Hardcover
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Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present (protected in a clear cover)
Condition
Book: Very Good for its age. Minimal general wear to the boards. Pen markings on several pages at the front of the book.
Dust Jacket: Present and protected in a plastic cover. Shows staining, edge wear, and tears consistent with a heavily used original 1913-era jacket.
Please review all photos for the most accurate representation of condition.
Collector Notes
Early printings of John Barleycorn are desirable on their own—but copies with the original dust jacket are in a different tier of scarcity. A strong, displayable example of a landmark alcoholism narrative from one of America’s most enduring literary voices.
- Historic Feature: Early coverage of Alcoholics Anonymous in a major national magazine.
- Rockefeller Connection: Details the crucial dinner that helped establish A.A.’s legitimacy.
- Early A.A. History: Documents the fellowship just five years after its founding.
- Condition: Well-preserved copy, good overall with only wear to front cover.
This issue is a historically significant artifact, capturing the moment Alcoholics Anonymous first entered the public spotlight, an event that shaped the fellowship’s future growth into a worldwide movement.
