Hearts in Atlantis, Signed By the Author with Original Mailing Envelope, Barry Melton, Etc. by King, Stephen

New York; (1999): Scribner. First Edition. Octavo. 523 pages. Inscribed: by the author "To Ron Combest--Here's the Vietnam book, Hope you like it. [includes his peace symbol', Stephen King 3/14/00. This is a novel that Kirkus Reviews calls King's masterpiece. Enclosed documents Letter I: February 25, 2000 to Stephen King on Mendocino County Superior Court letterhead, with a story of the correspondence between the Mendocino Judge and the note from Barry Melton. The Judge, Ronald R. Combest, notes what Stephen King had written in the back of the paperback edition of Bag of Bones "I was a child of the sixties, a child of Viet Nam as well, and have all through my career wished I could write about those times and those events from the Fish Cheer [note the original in concerts changed the three last letters F-I-S-H)...Barry ("the Fish") Melton, who was then with County Joe and the Fish, did the Fish Cheer at Woodstock. Barry is currently the Yolo County Public Defender, and has been a good friend for many years--somewhat ironic in that I was an Infantry Platoon Leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam when Woodstock happened. He then asks him to inscribe a copy for Barry Melton which Stephen King does. Letter II: [same letterhead] March 18, 2000, notes he has received the Bag of Bones his notes to Barry "the Fish" Melton. He goes onto thank the author for all the contributions. Letter III; Enveloped and Card from Barry Melton to Hon. Ron Combest, Judge, Superior Court of Mendocino County, etc On his personal stationary card, May 8, 2000, he writes; "Dear Ron, .."I want to express my heartfelt thanks at such magnificent gifts [the two books signed by Stephen King] which go a step beyond most gifts I've received in my life. You are, indeed, a treasured friend, Barry." Finally, there is the large mailing envelope in which was mailed from King's Longboast Key, Florida address [where he was still recovering from the accident that took place on June 19, 1999]. A further insight into what the author's sentiments were in the Vietnam era with Barry Melton of Country Joe and the Fish and his feelings forty years after Woodstock. Bound in 1/4 black cloth over light blue paper covered boards, spine lettering red, bottom corners bumper, near fine in fine unclipped pictorial dust jacket.