Under a Glass Bell

"Under a Glass Bell" is a notable collection of stories by Anais Nin, first published in 1944. Initially deemed unpublishable, Nin founded her own press to release it, featuring striking black-and-white engravings by her husband, Hugh Guiler. The collection quickly garnered attention, particularly from literary critic Edmund Wilson, whose review in "The New Yorker" contributed to its success, leading to a sold-out first printing within three weeks. This edition includes a foreword by Gunther Stuhlmann, offering historical context and insights into the diary that inspired the stories. It also features an introduction by modernist scholar Elizabeth Podnieks. Together, they illuminate the events and individuals behind the narratives while restoring the original sequence of the thirteen stories as Nin intended for the first commercial edition in 1948. This collection showcases Nin's artistic and emotional vision, solidifying its place as one of her finest works.