At the heart of Joseph Heller's bestselling novel, first published in 1961, is a satirical indictment of military madness and stupidity, and the desire of the ordinary man to survive it. It is a tale of the dangerously sane Captain Yossarian, who spends his time in Italy plotting to survive. Yossarian is a bombardier in the 256th Squadron of the Army Air Forces during World War II, stationed on Pianosa, a fictionalised island in the Mediterranean between mainland Italy and Corsica. The squadron's assignment is to bomb enemy ...
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At the heart of Joseph Heller's bestselling novel, first published in 1961, is a satirical indictment of military madness and stupidity, and the desire of the ordinary man to survive it. It is a tale of the dangerously sane Captain Yossarian, who spends his time in Italy plotting to survive. Yossarian is a bombardier in the 256th Squadron of the Army Air Forces during World War II, stationed on Pianosa, a fictionalised island in the Mediterranean between mainland Italy and Corsica. The squadron's assignment is to bomb enemy positions in Italy and eastern France. Yossarian's mission is simply to stay alive.
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Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $8,500.00, very good condition, Sold by Raptis Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Palm Beach, FL, UNITED STATES, published by Simon & Schuster.
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Seller's Description:
First edition of Heller's classic first book. Octavo, original blue cloth. Presentation coy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Albert Raman, Best wishes to you. Joseph Heller 3/20/80 New York." The recipient was a lawyer and well-known book collector. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing. Jacket design by Paul Bacon. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example with noted provenance. "Catch-22, Joseph Heller's first and best-known novel, depicts a military world turned upside down. In Heller's World War II, a supplies manager has more power than a general, and anyone seeking a discharge on the grounds of insanity is declared sane enough to keep on fighting. When the novel appeared in 1961, World War II veterans appreciated its satire of the military bureaucracy and chaos of war. By the mid-1960's, it had become a cult classic among counterculture activists for its biting indictments of war. Many consider the novel to be the definitive statement of the modern antiwar position. The phrase 'Catch-22', symbolizing the absurdity of all institutional logic, has become a permanent part of our language" (NYPL Books of the Century 177). Basis for the 1970 film directed by Mike Nichols. The cast included Alan Arkin, Bob Balaban, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Olimpia Carlisi, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Charles Grodin, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, and Orson Welles.
Add this copy of Catch 22 to cart. $4,500.00, very good condition, Sold by Burnside Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Portland, OR, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon and Schuster.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. 443 pp. First edition, first printing stated. Signed by Joseph Heller on the front free endpaper, with a lengthy inscription to a former owner. Bound in publisher's blue cloth with spine lettered in white. Very Good+ with bump to bottom edge of front board, thin strip of staining to bottom edge of covers from old-style dust jacket sleeve, spotting to front paste down and offsetting to rear endsheets. In a Very Good unclipped dust jacket, which exhibits edge wear, heavy waviness to the top portions and light, associated creasing. A nice copy for the first printing, signed by the author.
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $4,500.00, very good condition, Sold by Argosy Book Store rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from New York, NY, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon & Schuster.
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Near fine. Rebound in full blue morocco, raised bands, a.e.g. N.Y. : Simon & Schuster, 1961. Fine. Very early presentation copy, dated Sept. 11, 1961-"To Milton Perlman-With all good wishes, and sincere gratitude for your help and encouragement in these pre-publication days. Joe Heller".
Add this copy of Catch-22. to cart. $3,995.00, very good condition, Sold by Bronze Books rated 2.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Victorville, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon and Schuster.
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Seller's Description:
Very good in very good dust jacket. Signed by author. 443 p. 22 cm. Simon and Schuster, 1961. Hardcover. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition, First Printing SIGNED Joseph Heller on the ffp. An attractive dustjacket that is rich in color with slight wear to the edges. This original FIRST ISSUE DUSTJACKET has the $5.95 price present with no chips or pieces missing. The book is in nice shape. The binding is tight, and the boards are good with slight wear to the edges. The pages are clean with no writing, marks or bookplates in the book. The first 3 pages have a 1 inch tear at the lower right corner. Overall, a very nice copy of this TRUE FIRST EDITION SIGNED by the author. Signed by Author
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $3,950.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon & Schuster.
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Near Fine in Near Fine jacket. First edition. Bookplate front fly, and endpapers skinned where an old jacket protector was affixed there, thus good only in good dustwrapper with evidence of glue and tape where the jacket was affixed. A presentable, if not exactly lovely copy. The author's first novel, whose satiric anti-war attitude set the tone for the 1960s, and whose title quickly became part of the language.
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $2,475.00, very good condition, Sold by Novel Ideas Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Decatur, IL, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by 101 Productions.
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Very Good in Good dust jacket. Blue cloth binding has traces of fading on edges and a small area on the spine top. No internal markings. Dustjacket has moderate edgewear which includes small tears and light crease lines. There are two small chips out at the head and tail of the spine. Spine shows some soiling / darkening.; 8vo 8"-9" tall; 443 pages.
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $2,012.50, Sold by John K. King Used & Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Detroit, MI, UNITED STATES.
Edition:
Hardcover
Details:
Alibris ID:
14608297200
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Seller's Description:
NY 1961. 8.5x5.5", cloth, 443pp, bookplate, ink inscription, inner front hinge cracked, light cover staining in well worn and edge chipped dw. FIRST EDITION.
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $2,000.00, very good condition, Sold by Waverley Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Santa Monica, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon and Schuster..
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Very Good+ with no dust jacket. ADVANCE READING COPY. Very good+ or better copy in white printed wrappers. (Faintly discernible damping at bottom fore edge running through most the book. Not at all messy. Trace of toning at unprinted spine and front cover. Mild crease at bottom edge of rear cover. ) Uncommon advance issue of the author's acclaimed FIRST book.; 5 1/2" X 8 1/4"
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $1,895.00, like new condition, Sold by Jeff Bergman Books ABAA/ILAB rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Flemington, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon & Schuster.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Near Fine jacket. Book. 8vo-over 7¾-9¾" tall. Fine Copy in a Near Fine Jacket $5.95 on Lower Flap. Stated First Edition lightly Foxed on Jacket Spine Excellent Fresh Copy of This Modern Day Classic Scarce in This Condition.
Add this copy of Catch-22 to cart. $1,750.00, very good condition, Sold by Between the Covers-Rare Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Gloucester City, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1961 by Simon & Schuster.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Good jacket. First edition. Drink rings on the front board, else about near fine in a good plus dustwrapper with a few moderate chips. Author's first novel, whose satiric anti-war attitude set the tone for the 1960s, and whose title quickly became part of the language.
One thing I hate in a work of fiction is a lot of "telling" over "action" but with Catch-22 I figured I had to be missing something that it was ME - after all, it is regarded as one of the greatest novels ever. Now, I understand that there are different styles when it comes to telling vs showing but this book so far has been ridiculous and I now know why I have tried 3 times unsuccessfully to get past the first few chapters. I am going to fight my way through it this time but not happily because I have been told for so many years by people whose literary opinions I respect that Catch 22 is the bee's knees. At some point, maybe the next chapter, or the chapter after that, I will get to the action. I know the story has action to it - I know there's a plot, because it's been made into a fine movie. And I know that some authors tell a little more than others and some readers enjoy a little telling with their action. But I have no idea what Heller is up to in the first 5 chapters of Catch 22. I've been told that the book is hilarious but if it is, it must be later on. The movie is very funny so that's what I'm hoping for. I normally would wait till I finish a book to review it but I am making a special exception for Catch 22 because so far it has been agonizingly boring.
Rick
Apr 12, 2016
Better than expected
The copy I received was better than expected. This book is a classic and a must to under stand the origin and meaning of "Catch-22" so commonly used in our language today.
David W
Aug 31, 2014
Sane insanity
Once you have read this book, one realises that the widespread use of "Catch 22" to describe a situation so often; could not be further from the truth of the definition as described in this book.
Read it, and enjoy.
Dr S
Nov 21, 2013
A Classic
There is nothing to review. A Great book and a Great writer. I lent my copy and never got it back. No bookcase should be without one and so I have replaced mine. It should be read every three years on a regular basis for its humour and insight into life and human frailty.
Jack W
May 2, 2013
Heller's Book is a classic
Joseph Heller only wrote one book worth reading, but it is very good and a joy to read. My only paperbac k copy is long worn out and I had to have a good hard copy for my library.