1958 First Edition of My Uncle Jacinto by Andras Laszlo – Hardcover with Dust Jacket

Title: My Uncle Jacinto
Author: Andras Laszlo (Translated by Isabel Quigley)
Illustrator/Artist: Eduardo Vicente
Genre: Literary Fiction / Coming-of-Age / European Literature
Edition: 1958 First American Edition (First Printing)
Publisher: Harcourt, Brace and Company

Set against the gritty backdrop of mid-century Madrid, My Uncle Jacinto delivers an poignant portrait of family devotion and survival. The story follows Jacinto, a weary, disillusioned man living in an impoverished barrio that time and progress have left behind. Once a promising bullfighter, his career was long ago shattered by sickness and wine. Armed only with his stubborn pride and the double-edged skill of the cape and sword, Jacinto faces the hardships of each daily turn to care for his orphaned, seven-year-old nephew, Pepote.

Young Pepote is a delightful blend of childhood enchantment and street-smart wisdom, often acting as the more worldly anchor of their tiny two-man household. The delicate balance of their existence is completely upended when an unexpected letter arrives, offering a fleeting glimpse of past bullfighting glory while simultaneously threatening their very survival.

Author Andrés Laszlo Sr. (1910–1985): An Austro-Hungarian with French citizenship, Laszlo spent his most productive years writing in Spain and achieved widespread acclaim across Europe. Represented by the legendary literary agent Jenny Aspinwall Bradley, Laszlo was closely linked to the existentialist movement of post-WWII Paris, running in the same mid-century circles as Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway, and James Joyce. Known for his keen observation and characteristically melancholic disposition, his works include Paco Never Fails, Mother Unknown, and Doña Juana.

Illustrator/Artist Eduardo Vicente (1911–1963): A Spanish painter and illustrator celebrated for his atmospheric depictions of urban life, particularly the hidden alleys and working-class denizens of post-civil war Madrid. His visual style is defined by soft, expressive line work and washed tones that mirror the pride, dignity, and underlying melancholy of Spain's transitional era.

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Condition: Very Good/Good. Dust jacket: Moderately soiled, with dampstain on the back, near spine; wear along upper edge with small closed tear on the front and one on the back; chipped at head and tail of the spine; small remnant of an old label on front flap. Orange cloth cover boards: Lightly bumped at corners and head and tail of the spine. Shadows on front paste-down and fly leaf, possibly from a bookmark or other paper insert, else pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.