Salvador
Joan Didion
📚 Genre
Non-fiction, Investigative Journalism, Political Essays
🏢 Publisher
Washington Square Press (an imprint of Simon & Schuster)
📅 Publication Year
1983
🔢 ISBN
0671501747 / 9780671501747
About This Book
A searing work of non-fiction reportage, Salvador documents Didion's two-week journey to El Salvador in 1982 during the height of its civil war. She explores the pervasive atmosphere of terror, the 'death squads,' and the moral ambiguity of American involvement. The cover features minimalist black-and-white typography with visible creasing along the right side suggesting a cracked or worn aesthetic suited to the grim subject matter.
Book Details
Language
English
Pages
112 pages
Edition
Mass Market Paperback Edition
Series
None
Target Audience
Adult, Scholars, Political Enthusiasts
Collector Information
Condition
Fair to Good: Notable edge wear, rubbing on the black covers, and significant vertical creasing on the right side of the front cover. Minor chipping at the base of the spine area.
Estimated Value
$5.00 - $12.00
Rarity
Common: This Washington Square Press mass market edition was printed in large quantities during the 1980s and is easily found in used bookstores.
Historical Significance
A critical landmark in New Journalism and political reportage. It demonstrated Didion's shift from personal essays toward global political critique and remains a key text for understanding Central American history during the Cold War.
Collector Notes
This is a ‘reading copy’ rather than a investment grade collector's item. Collectors of Joan Didion typically seek the Simon & Schuster first edition hardcover with its dust jacket. To preserve this mass market copy, keep it away from direct sunlight as the black cover ink is prone to fading (ghosting) and the acidic paper will yellow and become brittle over time.
Similar Books
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, The Quiet American by Graham Greene, Dispatches by Michael Herr, Notes on a Native Son by James Baldwin
Notable Features
Features a prominent front cover blurb from The New York Times. The WSP logo is clearly visible at the bottom center. Originally serialized in The New York Review of Books.