I Was a Pagan — V.C. Kitchen (Signed & Inscribed, 1955)

Ninth Edition • Harper & Brothers • Original Dust Jacket

Offered here is a beautifully preserved and author-inscribed copy of I Was a Pagan by V.C. Kitchen—one of the most important and influential works to emerge from the Oxford Group movement, the spiritual predecessor to Alcoholics Anonymous.

This is the Ninth Edition, published by Harper & Brothers, and it retains its original dust jacket. Most significantly, the book bears a warm and expressive inscription from Victor Constant (“Vic”) Kitchen himself, written in Portland, Oregon, on May 23, 1955:

“To Otto and Claudia,
Famed for purifying Water — and Lives.
Gratefully from one who needs it — Vic Kitchen.
Portland, Ore. May 23, 1955.”

It is a personal, poetic inscription—full of humility, gratitude, and the spiritual warmth characteristic of Kitchen’s writing and the Oxford Group ethos. Signed copies of I Was a Pagan are seldom encountered, especially with such meaningful inscriptions.

About the Book

First published in 1934, I Was a Pagan is V.C. Kitchen’s deeply honest and influential account of his spiritual transformation through the Oxford Group. Written before the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, the book helped shape the spiritual practices and personal inventory methods that later inspired many aspects of AA’s Twelve Steps.

Kitchen writes candidly about his struggles with meaning, character defects, and a sense of moral disconnection—and how the Oxford Group’s principles of surrender, confession, restitution, and service opened the way to renewed purpose. His reflections remain a cornerstone for those studying early 20th-century spiritual movements and their impact on AA’s development.

This edition, published by Harper & Brothers, reflects the ongoing demand for Kitchen’s story well into the mid-20th century, and its survival with both jacket and inscription makes it especially valuable.

Condition

The book is in very good condition overall. The green cloth cover shows light wear and a small stain, with a handwritten “170” on the spine. Inside, Kitchen’s inscription appears boldly on the first page. There are a few pencil marks on several interior pages, but the text remains clean and fully legible.

The original dust jacket—rarely found intact on later editions—shows edge wear and small tears but remains bright and complete. The binding is solid, the pages clean, and the overall presentation strong and appealing for collectors.

A Rare Signed Copy of an Oxford Group Classic

This is an exceptional example of a highly influential spiritual memoir, personally inscribed by the author two decades after its first publication. For collectors of Oxford Group literature, early recovery history, or signed spiritual writings, this is a standout piece—rich in provenance, message, and historical significance.

Please review all photographs for the most accurate depiction of condition, including the inscription, jacket, and interior pages.