Longmans, Green and Co., 1928. U.K. edition cloth bound hardcover with dust jacket of The Cabala by Thornton Wilder.

Includes a publisher's promotional wrap-around paper with short bits of criticism.

Thornton Wilder’s The Cabala (1926) is his debut novel, set in post-World War I Rome. The story follows an American student who becomes entangled with an elite, eccentric group of expatriates and aristocrats known as The Cabala. This secretive circle, led by the enigmatic Princess d’Espoli, is composed of intellectuals, artists, and socialites who live decadently while being disconnected from the realities of the modern world.

The novel explores themes of European decadence, the clash between old-world traditions and modernity, and the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery as he navigates the contrasts between his youthful idealism and the disillusionment of the Cabala members. While not as well-known as Wilder’s later works like Our Town or The Bridge of San Luis Rey, The Cabala showcases his early literary style and interest in philosophical themes.

Good condition. Dust jacket worn but intact with edge wear and a few small closed tears. Light spotting to the page block edges and end papers. Interior pages crisp. A good vintage copy of Thornton's first book.