BOUND FOR ANNAPOLIS or The Trials of a Sailor Boy. #1 by Fitch, Ensign Clarke (pseudonym of Upton Sinclair) - (1903)

Philadelphia:: David McKay,, (1903). Hardcover -. Good overall in light blue cloth with green, gilt and dark blue illustrations on the front cover and spine - some soiling and wear to the covers, corners bumped, but binding is tight and sturdy. Gift inscription dated 1910.. Early printing. The first book in the second series that Sinclair wrote for Henry Harrison Lewis, editor at Street and Smith (the first was set at West Point and written under the pseudonym Frederick Garrison) The catalog at the back of the book lists Fitch as "A graduate of the U S Naval Academy at Annapolis, and thoroughly familar with all naval matters. Mr. Fitch has devoted himself to literature, and has written a series of books that every young American should read. His stories are full of very interesting information about the navy, training ships, etc." It was true that he had devoted himself to literature, and he was at the age of 19 already a self-supporting writer - and in just a few more years his classic muckraking novel, "The Jungle" would appear.. 269 pp plus 8 pp publisher's catalog.