THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY. Signed

Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Dust Jacket Included. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Inscribed to Joey Smallwood. 8vo. 368 pp. First Edition, early impression, (14th), of this landmark work, depicting a consumer culture gone wild, rich in goods but poor in the social services that make for community. "One of those rare works that forces a nation to re-examine its values" - The New York Times, April 30, 2006, nicely Inscribed by John Kenneth Galbraith to Premier Joey Smallwood of Newfoundland on the front free endpaper. 'For the honourable J.R. Smallwood, with my warm regards, John Kenneth Galbraith'. 'Then I had a long and close association with the most notable figure in Newfoundland history and one vital in that of Canada as well. That was Joseph Robert Smallwood. Joey Smallwood, one of the most diversely alert and interesting political leaders of this century and a central figure in the anniversary celebrations of these days. Joey Smallwood was several times in touch with me in Cambridge called me here to St. John's on one or two occasions for meetings, was one of the most interesting (and I must say unpredictable) political figures of his time. I now tell of something which until this moment is still unknown. He once pressed me hard and seriously to return to the land of my birth as head of this university. Under the arrangement that would be proposed I would retain a part-time commitment to Harvard. Not without difficulty I persuaded him that this would not be good for this university, would be unacceptable at Harvard and possibly questionable for Galbraith. Had I accepted, there would have been one certain and sad result: I would not today be receiving an honorary degree. Excerpted from the Convocation address by Dr. John Kenneth Galbraith at Memorial University Of Newfoundland - 75th anniversary of the founding of Memorial University College in 1925. (A long association well-documented). A near fine copy in brick coloured cloth, black morocco - style label with gilt titles to the spine, (some hand notations throughout), in a bright, fresh dustwrapper with some minimal use.