New York: The Viking Press, 1942. First Edition [stated]. Presumed First Printing. Hardcover. Good. No dust jacket. Spine somewhat faded. Slightly cocked.. 188 p. From Wikipedia: "The Moon Is Down, a novel by John Steinbeck fashioned for adaption for the theatre and for which Steinbeck received the Norwegian King Haakon VII Freedom Cross, was published by Viking Press in March 1942. The story tells of the military occupation of a small town in Northern Europe by the army of an unnamed nation at war with England and Russia (much like the occupation of Norway by the Germans during World War II). Numerous editions were secretly published across all of occupied Europe, including Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch and Italian versions; it was the best known work of U.S. literature in the Soviet Union during the war. Although the text never names the occupying force as German, references to "The Leader", "Memories of defeats in Belgium and France 20 years ago" clearly suggest it. Written with a purpose to motivate and enthuse the resistance movements in occupied countries, the book has appeared in at least 92 editions across the world."

Synopsis

In this masterful tale set in Norway during World War II, Steinbeck explores the effects of invasion on both the conquered and the conquerors. As he delves into the emotions of the German commander and the Norwegian traitor, and depicts the spirited patriotism of the Norwegian underground, Steinbeck uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war—and about human nature. Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck’s self-described “celebration of the durability of democracy” had an extraordinary impact as Allied propaganda in Nazi-occupied Europe. Despite Axis efforts to suppress it (in Fascist Italy, mere possession of the book was punishable by death), The Moon is Down was secretly translated into French, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Swedish, German, Italian and Russian; hundreds of thousands of copies circulated throughout Europe, making it by far the most popular piece of propaganda under the occupation. Few literary works of our time have demonstrated so triumphantly the power of ideas in the face of cold steel and brute force. This edition features an introduction by Donald V. Coers.

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Details

Bookseller: Ground Zero Books (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 70710
Title: The Moon is Down: A Novel
Author: Steinbeck, John
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - Good. No dust jacket. Spine somewhat faded. Slightly cocked.
Quantity Available: 1
Edition: First Edition [stated]. Presumed First Printing
Publisher: The Viking Press
Place of Publication: New York
Date Published: 1942
Keywords: Military Occupation, Resistance Movements, Partisans, Freedom Fighters, Propaganda, Anti-Nazi, Morale, Home Front

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Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Cocked: Refers to a state where the spine of a book is lightly "twisted" in such a way that the front and rear boards of a book do not...
First Edition: In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
Jacket: Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
Spine: The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....