"Forrest Gump: A Novel" by Winston Groom; published by Pocket Books, trademark of Simon & Schuster Inc., 1994. First Printing with "First Pocket Books hardcover printing November 1994" and full number line on the copyright page.

This edition corresponds with the film.

Dust jacket with original price on the front flap; blue hard boards with gold imprinted signature of Winston Groom, black cloth spine with gold lettering, blue endpapers, 5.1/2" x 8.1/2"; 228 pages, very good condition.

"Forrest Gump" is a 1986 novel by Winston Groom. The title character retells adventures ranging from shrimp boating and ping pong championships, to thinking about his childhood love, as he bumbles his way through American history, with everything from the Vietnam War to college football becoming part of the story.

Winston Francis Groom, Jr. (1943-2020) was an American novelist and non-fiction writer. He is the author of twenty previous books, including "Forrest Gump", "Conversations with the Enemy" (Pulitzer Prize finalist), "Shiloh 1862", and "The Generals". He served in Vietnam with the Fourth Infantry Division.

He is best known for his book "Forrest Gump", which was adapted into a film by Robert Zemeckis in 1994. The film became a cultural phenomenon, and won six Academy Awards. He published a sequel, "Gump and Co.", in 1995. He has also written numerous non-fiction works, on diverse subjects including the American Civil War and the Great War.

"Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable, herculean, and surprisingly savvy hero of this remarkable comic odyssey. After accidentally becoming the star of University of Alabama's football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a world-class Ping-Pong player, a villainous wrestler, and a business tycoon -- as he wonders with childlike wisdom at the insanity all around him. In between misadventures, he manages to compare battle scars with Lyndon Johnson, discover the truth about Richard Nixon, and survive the ups and downs of remaining true to his only love, Jenny, on an extraordinary journey through three decades of the American cultural landscape." [a review]

"I read this book years ago (before the movie) and enjoyed the comedy aspect of the book. In fact I remember being disappointed in the movie thinking they got it ALL WRONG! (though, like the rest of the world-I've grown to love the movie, as well;)

I decided to read it again (20-ish years later) and I was not disappointed!

Do not expect the Tom Hanks version of Forrest!!!It is unfortunate that this book is overshadowed by the movie. The movie was obviously "inspired" by the book-each is it's own work of art. They really cannot and should not be compared.

The book (written in first person through Forrest's voice) is a compilation of outrageous (and mostly ridiculous) situations Forrest finds himself in. It is a comedy with heart as he meets memorable characters along the way. [a private review]

"For fans of the Tom Hanks movie, be advised the movie was "inspired" by this book rather than being in lockstep with the book. I love both of them, by the way, and neither takes away anything from the other, which is rare in itself. Forrest is like a smarter version of Lil' Abner, if you remember that comic strip. Muscular, huge, strong as an ox, and smart enough to know he isn't very smart. The gentle nature and good heart infuse both the book and movie characters, but most comparisons end there. This is an all-out, raucous, hilarious romp of a book that is harder to put down than a bag of potato chips. There is pathos, but, unlike the film, it is always understated and is subservient at all times to the fast pace of the plot and the humor. It is truly unusual to find a book this enjoyable on its own merits and its own premise, which is virtually a celebration of life with all its joys and surprises and sorrows without sinking into a mire of didactic finger-wagging. In short, it's a delight not to be missed. [a private review]

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) -------- $12.50
Canada: 1st Class (c 2-6 weeks) -- $30.50
World: 1st Class (c 2-7 weeks) --- $40.50