The Big Bender by Charles Clapp Jr. - First Edition 1938 - ODJ
The Big Bender — Charles Clapp Jr. (First Edition, 1938, with Original Dust Jacket)
Author: Charles Clapp Jr.
Publisher: Harper & Brothers, New York
Publication Year: 1938
Edition: First Edition
Binding: Hardcover with original dust jacket
Condition: Very Good — light wear to cover; interior clean and unmarked except for handwriting on the first page; dust jacket shows age wear, with tears and stains as shown. Please review all photos for condition details.
Description
Offered here is a First Edition (1938) of The Big Bender by Charles Clapp Jr., complete with its original dust jacket — a highly sought-after cornerstone in early recovery and Oxford Group literature.
Long recognized by A.A. historians and collectors as a “must-have” title, The Big Bender chronicles Clapp’s harrowing struggle with alcoholism and his eventual spiritual awakening through the Oxford Group Movement — the same spiritual fellowship that would directly influence the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Clapp’s deeply personal narrative is both candid and powerful, describing not only the chaos of his drinking years but also his discovery of spiritual transformation through honesty, surrender, and fellowship.
Historical Context
The Big Bender holds a unique place in the pre-A.A. recovery story.
Charles Clapp Jr. was an Oxford Grouper who lived in Bedford Hills, New York, and was closely associated with Rev. Sam Shoemaker, whose teachings later helped shape the Twelve Steps of A.A. Despite his early involvement, Clapp struggled to maintain sobriety until October 1935, when Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, personally helped him get sober.
His story, published just three years later in 1938, offers a rare firsthand account of the principles and spiritual experiences that occurred in the time that A.A. was a nameless group of drunks, before taking on the name Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939.
Through vivid storytelling, Clapp portrays the despair of his drinking, the fellowship and discipline of the Oxford Group, and the slow emergence of hope through the practice of honesty, restitution, and reliance on God — the same framework that would soon evolve into the Twelve Steps.
Collector’s Significance
Pre-A.A. Recovery Literature: Published one year before the Big Book was written, The Big Bender is among the most important firsthand narratives of early spiritual recovery.
Direct Connection to Bill W.: Charles Clapp Jr. was personally helped by Bill Wilson in 1935 — making his testimony historically invaluable.
Oxford Group Origins: Documents the moral and spiritual practices that directly shaped Alcoholics Anonymous.
Scarce in Jacket: Copies of the 1938 First Edition with their original dust jackets are rare and highly sought by A.A. collectors.
Condition
This copy is in very good condition, showing only light handling wear for its age.
Book: Tight binding; clean pages; handwriting on the first page; no other writing or marks.
Dust Jacket: Original and complete, showing visible wear, tears, and stains consistent with age.
Please view all photos for full condition details.
Summary
An authentic First Edition (1938) of The Big Bender — an essential Oxford Group title that bridges the gap between spiritual renewal and the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous. A key piece of recovery history, and a cornerstone for any serious collector of early A.A. or Oxford Group literature.
