The Last Temptation
Joseph Viertel
📚 Genre
Fiction - Historical Fiction / Post-War Drama
🏢 Publisher
Simon and Schuster, New York
📅 Publication Year
1955
🔢 ISBN
N/A (Pre-ISBN era)
About This Book
A mid-century novel following the epic journey of a Czech-Jewish couple, Vic and Debbie, as they flee the Holocaust in Prague and Vienna, ending up in British-mandated Palestine (Israel). The story focuses on themes of survival, betrayal, moral compromise, and the search for identity in a post-war world.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
437 pages
Edition
First Edition (likely 1st printing)
Series
Standalone novel
Target Audience
Adult
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Fair. Visible foxing and heavy toning on page edges; slight staining on the fore-edge. The internal paper shows age-related yellowing.
Estimated Value
$10 - $25
Rarity
Common. While it is an older out-of-print title, many copies were produced due to its selection as a Literary Guild book, making it easily found in used bookstores.
Historical Significance
A notable example of mid-20th-century American fiction exploring the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel. It was a Literary Guild selection in its year of release.
Collector Notes
The value is significantly higher if the original dust jacket is present and intact. Collectibility is impacted by the visible foxing and edge-wear seen in the image. To preserve, keep in a temperature-controlled environment away from direct sunlight to prevent further acid-toning of the paper.
Similar Books
The Wall by John Hersey, Exodus by Leon Uris, The Source by James A. Michener, The Lost by Hans Koning
Notable Features
Includes the classic Simon and Schuster 'Sower' logo on the title page. Potential first edition status based on the typography and red cloth binding visible.