Slaughterhouse-Five
by Vonnegut, Kurt
Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a satirical novel by Kurt Vonnegut and is generally recognized as his most influential and popular work. Set around World War II, the novels tells of the story of Billy Pilgrim, a chaplain’s assistant, and his experiences and journeys through time. Billy sees when, how, and why he will die, resulting in his becoming fatalistic. The refrain “so it goes” is used when death, dying, and mortality occur and it appears in the book 106 times. Additionally, the novel can be read as semi-autobiographical: Vonnegut was present during the firebombing of Dresden, a central event in the novel.
Shortly after publication, Slaughterhouse-Five was nominated for two best novel recognitions, a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award, though it lost both to Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. The Modern Library ranked Slaughterhouse-Five eighteenth on its list of the “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century in 1998. It is also listed in TIME’s “100 Best Novels” (since 1923).
However, mainly due to its irreverent tone and obscene content, Slaughterhouse-Five has been the subject of many attempts at censorship. The novel treats one of the most horrific massacres in European history—the firebombing of Dresden—with mock-serious humor and clear antiwar sentiment. It also depicts sexuality to a revolutionary extent as one of the first literary acknowledgments that homosexual men, referred to in the novel as “fairies,” were among the victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Thus, Slaughterhouse-Five is listed in the American Library Association's list of the “Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999” as well as the ALA's “Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000–2009.”
The novel has been adapted more than a handful of times, most notably a film adaptation by the same name made in 1972. Although the film did poorly in the box office, it was critically praised, winning the Prix du Jury at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival.
First Edition Identification
Delacorte Press originally published Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death, in 1969. Bound in blue cloth, the 186-page first edition states “First Printing” on the copyright page. The dust jacket states the original price of $5.95 on the upper corner of the front flap.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Franklin Library published the first collector’s edition of Slaughterhouse-Five in 1978. This edition is bound in brown leather with gilt lettering and design work, silk end pages, and an attached page marker.
Reviews
Review this book!
I very much enjoyed this novel. It was my first Vonnegut book, and have since ordered others.I felt it a very well written novel, with a great story, however made a horrible movie.
Available Copies
Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1969
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Toronto , Ontario, CAN
- Item Price
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A$503.91
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Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- first paperback
- Published
- 1970
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- 1
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Scotia, New York, USA
- Item Price
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A$69.77
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Slaughterhouse-Five: Or The Children's Crusade, A Duty Dance With Death (25th Anniversary)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 25th Anniversary ed., First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1994
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385312080
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- 1
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Sewell, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
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A$155.03
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Slaughter House Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780440180296
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- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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A$17.05
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Slaughterhouse Five: or the Children's Crusade, a Duty Dance with Death
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Very Good+
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- Uncorrected Proof
- Published
- 1970
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- 1
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Portland, Oregon, USA
- Item Price
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A$3,721.20
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Slaughterhouse-Five: Or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death. A Novel. (25th Anniversary Edition)(Signed)
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 25th Anniversary Edition
- Published
- 1994
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385312080
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- 1
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Hendersonville, North Carolina, USA
- Item Price
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A$1,550.50
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Slaughterhouse-Five
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- No Jacket
- Edition
- 82nd Printing
- Published
- 1996
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780440180296
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- 1
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Campbell River, British Columbia, CAN
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A$26.28
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Slaughterhouse-Five
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- Used - Fair
- Published
- November 3, 1991
- ISBN
- 9780440180296
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- 1
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Cheverie, Nova Scotia, CAN
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A$7.75
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Slaughterhouse-five;: Or, The children's crusade: a duty-dance with death
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1970
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780224618014
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Johannesburg, ZAF
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A$155.05
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Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1999
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780385333849
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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A$10.05
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Slaughterhouse-Five (Turtleback Binding Edition)
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780808514572
- Quantity Available
- 1
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San Diego, California, USA
- Item Price
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A$102.33
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Slaughterhouse-Five: Reforming the Novel and the World
by Klinkowitz, Jerome
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1989
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780805794106
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- 1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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A$10.34
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Slaughterhouse-Five: Reforming the Novel and the World
by Klinkowitz, Jerome
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1989
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780805794106
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.34
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Slaughterhouse-Five (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- Reissue
- Published
- 1991-11-03
- Binding
- Mass_market
- ISBN
- 9780440180296
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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HOUSTON, Texas, USA
- Item Price
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A$13.38
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Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Kurt Vonnegut
- Condition
- New
- Published
- February 1994
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385312080
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
- Item Price
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A$46.70
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Slaughterhouse-Five
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Light fading extremities, slight lean, slight bow, overall very good to near fine in very good, lightly toned and soiled dust ja
- Edition
- Sixth printing
- Published
- 1969
- Binding
- Teal cloth, in dust jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Denver, Colorado, USA
- Item Price
-
A$387.62
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Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 1999
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780385333849
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.05
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Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 1999
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780385333849
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
-
A$10.05
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Slaughterhouse 5 (Sparknotes Literature Guide)
by Vonnegut Jr, Kurt; Sparknotes
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 2002
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9781586634582
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- 1
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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A$10.33
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Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel (Modern Library 100 Best Novels)
by Vonnegut, Kurt
- Condition
- New
- Published
- 1994-02-01
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780385312080
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Fairfax Station, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
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A$26.33