YOU DO UNDERSTAND

Champaign, IL: Dalkey Archive Press, 2010. First Edition. First Printing.. Softcover. Fine/No Dust Jacket, As Issued.. Champaign, IL: Dalkey Archive Press, 2010. Softcover. Fine/None, As Issued. First Edition/First Printing. 112 pages. The author's second book to be translated into English. Now considered a contemporary classic. The first appearance of the title in English and in the United States. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a softcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Andrej Blatnik's "Saj razumes" in a felicitous English translation. Collection of short shorts. The title is ironic as the book is about every possible mis-understanding. We do NOT understand. Blatnik captures this novelistic subject in a few lines, distilling a mental life to its purest essence: "The professor looks at her student, thinking: He wants me, I'm still beautiful. The student looks at his professor, thinking: She'd have me, I'm smart enough. The professor thinks about her years of attractiveness running out. The student thinks about the smart people accepting him sooner than he had hoped. The professor tells herself she could lock the door, it's late on a hot afternoon, exams are over. The student tells himself everyone has gone home, exams are over, nobody would notice. The professor considers whether she should ask anything else. The student wonders whether what happens or doesn't happen will affect his grade. The professor does not want allowances made. The student does not want allowances made. The professor only wants to be sure that it happens because of her and not because of her position. The student only wants to be sure that his grade is what he really deserves" (Andrej Blatnik) . An absolute "must-have" title for Andrej Blatnik collectors. This copy is very prominently and beautifully signed, placed, and dated in blue pen on the title page by the author: "Andrej Blatnik NY, 29/4/11". It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. Blatnik made a rare appearance at the 2011 PEN World Festival. Laid-in is a copy of the 60-page Souvenir Program. This title is a contemporary classic. As far as we know, this is the only such signed, placed, and dated copy of the First Edition/First Printing (American) available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A rare signed copy thus. One of the most brilliant writers of our time. A fine copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER ANDREJ BLATNIK TITLE IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 1564785998.