The Third Strike by Jerry Gray - Hazelden Edition

The Third Strike — Hazelden Edition (Printing year not stated)

by “Jerry Gray” (pseud.)
Edited by Glenn Clark • Foreword by Starr Daily
Hazelden (Center City, Minnesota 55012) • Copyright page reads 1949
Notable provenance: “A.A. Topeka Home Group” stamp on title page

Description

This Hazelden reprint of The Third Strike preserves one of the starkest early first-person accounts of alcoholism in mid-century recovery literature. Written as a partial autobiography, it tracks the author’s brutal descent and interior unraveling with unusual psychological precision—more confession than “inspirational recovery,” and far more unsettling than many later memoirs.

The text originally appeared under the Abingdon imprint (1949), and Hazelden’s later issuance underscores the book’s long-standing value within recovery circles—especially for readers interested in raw, pre-modern portrayals of alcoholic obsession, despair, and self-destruction.

Literary & Historical Significance

A hard-edged, early alcoholism memoir with genuine literary force. Edited by Glenn Clark (spiritual writer/editor), shaping the book’s framing and readability. Foreword by Starr Daily, emphasizing the work’s importance despite its tragic trajectory. Hazelden’s publication connects it to the institutional history of American recovery publishing.

Special Features

Original Hazelden dust jacket present (green jacket, period design). A.A. Topeka Home Group ownership stamp on title page (interesting recovery-community provenance).

Condition

Overall condition: Good (with jacket). Dust jacket shows edge wear, chipping, and small losses. Cloth boards solid with light handling wear. A.A. group stamp on title page; no other writing noted from the photos provided. Pages appear clean and readable; binding appears secure.

Please review all photographs for exact condition details.