The Bourne Identity

6W Robert Ludlum. New York: Richard Marek, 1980. First Edition

Notes

The Bourne Identity, published by Richard Marek in 1980, is a foundational espionage thriller that established the "amnesiac secret agent" archetype in modern fiction. The narrative follows a man pulled from the Mediterranean Sea with multiple gunshot wounds and total amnesia, carrying only a Swiss bank account number implanted under his skin. As he attempts to reconstruct his past under the assumed name Jason Bourne, he discovers he possesses advanced combat reflexes and multi-lingual fluency while being actively hunted by both a global assassin and his own intelligence agency. Robert Ludlum (1927–2001), a former theatrical producer, channeled post-Watergate public cynicism toward deep-state government clandestine operations into the book's complex, fast-paced plot. The novel became a major commercial success, spending months on the New York Times bestseller list and launching a multi-billion-dollar global media franchise. For modern book collectors, authentic 1980 first printings with intact dust jackets remain highly sought-after cornerstones of late Cold War speculative fiction.

Description

Black canvas binding with gilt lettering to spine. Original dustwrapper. White mark on spine. Clean interior. Fine condition.