Author: Charles Frazier (B.1950)

Publisher and Date: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1997

Octavo: 9 x 5.93 in. ( 22.80 x 15.20 cm.)

Condition: Original black cloth-baked blue boards lettered in gilt on spine, illustrated endpapers, dust-jacket (with John Berendt review sticker laid down). 

Provenance: George Cosmatos, inscribed on the title page of the author “Charles Frazier / 10-8-97.”

Description:

The fine George Cosmatos copy of the first trade edition of the author’s first novel, inscribed at the time of publication.

“Cold Mountain is a heartbreakingly beautiful story, elegantly told and utterly convincing down to the last haunting detail.” (John Berendt). In his first novel, Frazier “traces the journey of Inman, a wounded deserter from the Confederate army near the end of the American Civil War. The work is rich in the culture and sensibilities of the North Carolina mountains and was based on local history and stories handed down by Frazier’s father about Frazier’s great-great-uncle W.P. Inman... [He] served as a private in Company F of the 25th North Carolina Infantry, and his regiment did participate in the fighting in the Siege of Petersburg, including the Battle of the Crater” (Wikipedia). The novel was a publishing phenomenon; the first printing was a relatively modest 25,000 copies, but over 1 million copies have since been sold, it won the 1997 National Book Award and was adapted as a film of the same title by Anthony Minghella in 2003. The film starred Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renee Zellweger and Eileen Atkins. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, and won one: Renee Zellweger for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. 

This copy was formerly in the collection of film director George Cosmatos. He is recognized as having been a particularly discerning collector who concentrated on building a library that included the best of American, English and Continental literature, whilst also reflecting his love of film. The present work ably demonstrates that his reputation was richly deserved.