When the novel was published in 1962 (which this edition replicates precisely) Ken Kesey was already an established figure among the Beats and the Hippies as a counterculture figure. Cuckoo’s Nest was an immediate success and made him famous for his experimentation with LSD and association with the Merry Pranksters. The inspiration for the novel was based on a brief stint working at the Menlo Park Veteran’s Hospital. For many, the book was a first glimpse at the horrors of many state mental institutions. Kesey did not believe the patients were insane, rather, that they did not fit into the conventional norms of society.

This 1990 facsimile edition is an imprint of the First Edition Library (FEL), which independently published high quality facsimiles of many classic American novels. These editions are now extremely rare. This pristine facsimile of the 1962 edition comes in a custom slipcase provided by the publisher.