Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - first US edition

by Gregory Maguire - signed

A beguiling reconstruction of the Cinderella story, set in the 17th century, in which the protagonist is not the beautiful princess-to-be but her plain stepsister. Iris Fisher is an intelligent young woman struggling with poverty and plain looks. She, her mother, Margarethe, and her retarded sister, Ruth, flee their English country village in the wake of her father's violent death, hoping to find welcome in Margarethe's native Holland. But the practical Dutch are fighting the plague and have no sympathy for the needy family. Finally, a portrait painter agrees to hire them as servants, specifying that Iris will be his model. Iris is heartbroken the first time she sees her likeness on canvas, but she begins to understand the function of art . . . The narrative is both "magical," and anchored in the reality of the 17th century, an astute balance of the ideal and sordid sides of human nature in a vision that fantasy lovers will find hard to resist.

Book is glossy and face appears through dust jacket. Both are in fine condition. Boldly signed in black marker on the title page by the author, from a signing for 'Son of a Witch' on Oct 21, 2005 at Powell's Books.