My trip to the library today.......lol, Jim Webb

[AnnInLa]

So, my library was having its semi-annual book sale, so I took my big box and went on over. Was thumbing thru all the books and found one, A Country Such as This, by James Webb. Hmmm, could it be one of those evil books by OUR Jim Webb? Opened up the back cover to see OUR Jim Webb's picture, and was it a doozy! I got the giggles as I saw a pic of the young Webb, bespeckled with "granny" glasses, and what looked like an immense brillo pad all over his head, kind of a semi-afro. The blurb on him said, "James Webb, a Naval Academy graduate, was a Marine Infantry commander in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice and received, among other awards, the Navy Cross and the Silver Star Medal. After graduating from Georgetown Law Center, he served for several years as a key congressional aide and has also taught college literature. He lives in Arlington, VA."

It was published in 1983. His dedication says, "To my father, who taught me the stuff of leadership, and how to fight. And to my mother, who taught me sacrifice, and how to love."

There were several ladies standing by, and I pointed to the picture, and asked them if they recognized the man. They all shook their heads, and one said, "James Webb, James Webb?" So I told them that he was our new Senator from Virginia, and had just defeated George Allen, and had been all over the tee vee recently. Two of them looked totally blank, but the youngest one said, "Let me see that picture again. Oh yeah, that's him." I live in such a wasteland.

Anyway I bought the evil book for 10 cents, and giggled all the way home about the picture of him in 1983. Of course, we all looked a little strange in 1983!

[yellowdogmi]

1. Find a scanner and share.

Sounds like a fun day. I love book sales.

[AnnInLa]

2. It's a small picture and yellowed....doubtless

a google search would find the same pic....I hate to be so amused about the picture, but it IS amusing!

[TahitiNut]

3. If it's a Doubleday first edition (1983), it's worth money.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/w/james-webb/country-such-as-this.htm

[AnnInLa]

5. It is a Doubleday First Edition.....thanks!

I'll go over there and check it out....thanks! My wish would be to get it autographed!!

[bluedogyellowdog]

6. I own

"Born Fighting" autographed by the author :bounce:
Hope he will still be available to autograph books now that he's a U.S. Senator-elect.

[AnnInLa]

7. TahitiNut: From what I could tell.....on the site you posted

The hardback First Editions sell from anywhere from $3 to $50/75....I really don't understand.

[TahitiNut]

8. Condition. Also, I think some of the descriptions have mistakes.

It's part of the 'mystique' of collectibles, I guess.

[Sequoia]

4. I picked up his book, "Fields of Fire"

last week and there was a character nicknamed "Senator"...Ha, ha, ha, ha. I wondered if that was Webb in that person.