The Story of Mrs. Murphy by Natalie Anderson Scott
The Story of Mrs. Murphy
by Natalie Anderson Scott
New York, 1947 · E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc.
First Edition
Description
The Story of Mrs. Murphy (1947) by Natalie Anderson Scott is a powerful and unflinching novel centered on alcoholism and its devastating effects on individuals and families. Widely regarded as one of the most important early works of fiction to confront alcoholism head-on, the novel helped shape public understanding of the disease during the formative years of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Natalie Anderson Scott was closely connected to the early AA movement, and this novel is often discussed alongside AA history due to its realistic portrayal of addiction, denial, and recovery themes. The book presents alcoholism not as moral failure, but as a progressive and destructive condition—an approach that closely aligned with AA’s emerging message in the 1940s.
The novel follows the life of Jim Murphy, an alcoholic whose struggles ripple outward to affect his wife and family. Told with compassion, realism, and psychological depth, the book was praised upon release for its honesty and emotional power. Contemporary reviewers noted its refusal to sensationalize addiction, instead offering a sobering and human portrait of suffering and consequence.
This title is considered a landmark work of alcoholism literature in fictional form and remains highly sought after by collectors of AA-related material, recovery history, and mid-20th-century social fiction.
Publication Details
Title: The Story of Mrs. Murphy
Author: Natalie Anderson Scott
Publisher: E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc.
Publication Year: 1947
Format: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition
Condition
Book: Good overall condition. Gray cloth boards are intact with moderate wear consistent with age. Spine and cover lettering remain legible. Binding is sound. Pages are complete with age-appropriate toning. No writing or markings observed.
Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present. Displays noticeable wear, edge chipping, creasing, and tears, but remains complete and visually striking.
Please review all photos carefully for a full assessment of condition.
Significance
The Story of Mrs. Murphy stands as one of the earliest and most influential novels to address alcoholism as a serious illness rather than a moral shortcoming. Its connection to early AA-era thinking and its compassionate realism make it a cornerstone work for collectors interested in the cultural and literary history of recovery.
A compelling and increasingly scarce First Edition—an essential piece for collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous history, recovery literature, and mid-century American fiction.
