1964 1st Ed 3rd Print \"The Moon by Night\" Madeleine L\'Engle hcdj - Austin Family For Sale

Picture this: a starry night somewhere in the American West, the Austin family gathered around a campfire, fourteen-year-old Vicky wrestling with first crushes, family secrets, and the wild uncertainties of growing up—while the moon watches over it all. That’s the beating heart of Madeleine L’Engle’s The Moon by Night, the beloved second chapter in her Austin Family Chronicles.

In this enchanting 1963 story (this copy a stated Third Printing, 1964), the entire Austin clan piles into their station wagon for a gloriously meandering cross-country camping trip before settling in New York City. Vicky navigates everything from breathtaking mountain vistas to the thrill (and terror) of young romance with the enigmatic Zachary Gray. It’s a perfect blend of adventure, quiet family moments, and L’Engle’s signature way of weaving profound questions about faith, love, and belonging into a page-turning tale that feels as fresh today as it did under those 1960s camp lanterns. No illustrations—just pure story that pulls you in and refuses to let go.

Madeleine L’Engle (1918–2007) was a master storyteller who gave the world A Wrinkle in Time (Newbery Medal winner) and dozens more books that still shape young imaginations. The Austin series, starting with Meet the Austins, draws deeply from her own life—including a real 1959 family camping trek across the United States that directly inspired this very novel. Collectors and fans of the full Austin saga (which continues in The Young Unicorns and the Newbery Honor-winning A Ring of Endless Light) know these early hardcover editions are the ones that truly glow with original magic. While later reprints are everywhere, this authentic 1964 printing—complete with its original dust jacket still proudly showing the $3.25 price—rarely appears on the market in such appealing shape.

Condition is described with complete honesty: This 8.5\" × 5.75\" hardcover (224 pages, Ariel Books / Farrar, Straus and Company) remains tight and solid with no loose pages. Pages show light, even tanning typical of the era; text block edges are clean. A few gentle bumps to corners and mild edge wear on the cover boards are present, but the white spine lettering remains crisp and bright. The dust jacket displays the expected age with several small chips and tears (longest ½\" at the top front spine hinge), minor scuffing, light soiling, and some tanning to the white rear panel—yet it is not price-clipped. A faint 2\" circular stain appears only on the reverse side of the jacket and does not show through or affect the front. One charming, personal touch: a simple crayon drawing of a heart graces the back endpaper—nothing intrusive, just a sweet reminder that this book once belonged to a young reader who loved it enough to leave their mark. No other writing, labels, library stamps, or markings anywhere. See the photos for a clear, honest look at every detail.

Whether you’re a dedicated L’Engle collector completing the Austin Family set, a parent passing on the wonder of her stories, or simply someone who craves that rare, tangible connection to mid-century children’s literature at its finest, this copy delivers. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to load up the car, chase the horizon, and read under the moon—just like Vicky. Don’t let this one slip away; early printings like this don’t linger long.