HELLER, Joseph (1923?1999). Catch?22. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1961. 8vo. Original publisher?s blue cloth, spine lettered in white, red top stain; original unclipped dust jacket priced ?$5.95? with a photograph of Heller on the rear panel by Seymour Linden (few faint spots of surface wear, else fine); morocco?backed folding case. FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY HELLER on the title?page of the author's first book that is considered to be one of the most significant works of protest literature, introducing the famous phrase coined by Heller into the English language. Heller ?does not work in the great American tradition of bitter realism. His approach is satirical but is also surrealistic, absurd, even lunatic. But the aim is serious enough? to show the mess of war? (Burgess, 99 Novels: The Best in English since 1939, p. 79). A NEAR FINE COPY.