Woodstock, NY: The Overlook Press, 1987. 207pp. Black textured paper over boards; dust jacket. Fine in an unclipped jacket, mildly toned. Signed at all four corners and dated to half-title by Roubaud. First American edition of the debut novel by French writer, mathematician, and OULIPO member Jacques Roubaud (1932-2024), a meta-fictional tale of detection taking place "in a small Parisian neighborhood that exists only in the Author's imagination" (jacket flap). Translated from the French by David Kornacker. Jacket design by Susan Newman, with art by Trevor Winkfield. This copy signed by Roubaud in Seattle, where he traveled in 1987 with Harry Mathews to do a reading and give a talk in conjunction with experimental writing collective Invisible Seattle. An uncommon signature in English-language editions.
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