Exit Ghost by Philip Roth, Art by R. B. Kitaj, Arion Press, 68 of 275

This is a limited edition of “Exit Ghost”, the last of Philip Roth’s nine novels about Nathan Zukerman, published by the Arion Press in 2018 with a limitation of 275 numbered copies with this being number 68. From the publisher, “The Arion Press is proud to announce its publication of Exit Ghost, the 2007 novel by the great American writer Philip Roth, alongside art work by his close friend the American painter R. B. Kitaj. We had long hoped to include Philip Roth in the Arion Press publishing program, but were waiting for inspiration on how to present his work, mainly on the question of an artist to illustrate one of his novels. In this case we ran out of patience and made the offer without an artist in mind. As luck would have it, Roth’s choice drove the choice of the artist and the scheme for the illustrations.

The edition is not signed as planned. Roth died on May 22, 2018, at the age of 85. The novel’s title comes from a stage direction in the first act of Shakespeare’s Hamlet when Hamlet’s father’s ghost refuses to answer questions and then disappears. His protagonist Nathan Zuckerman, elderly and debilitated by prostate surgery, has left the stage. So has Philip Roth.”

The book is 9.75” x 7” with 290 pages and printed by letterpress. The binding is full green cloth with an illustration by R.J. Kitaj on the front cover. The book is housed in a matching slipcase. There are a total of thirteen illustrations in color, three in black and white including the front cover portrait.

Accompanying the book is the original prospectus.

The book and slipcase are in MINT condition still in the publisher’s original packaging.

Publisher’s stock photographs of the binding as well as some of R. B. Kitaj’s illustrations appear in the photo section of the listing.

About the Arion Press

Since its inception in 1974, the Arion Press has published 118 deluxe limited editions that are breathtaking in their scope and artistry. Combining notable literature illustrated with original artwork from prominent artists, Andrew Hoyem and his team at the Arion Press have carried on the tradition of the livre d’artiste in spectacular fashion. Michael Kimmelman of the New York Times put it best when he wrote, "The Arion Press produces some of the most beautiful limited-edition, hand printed books in the world."