Books

First edition, first impression, signed by the author on the title page. This collection of three plays includes the first publications of The Room and The Dumb Waiter; The Birthday Party was published by Encore separately the previous year. Loosely inserted is the programme for The Dumb Waiter and The Room, performed at the Royal Court Theatre in March 1960. These were Pinter's earliest plays, bringing him both praise and disdain. In 1957, when The Room was staged at the National Student Drama Festival, "a glowing notice from Harold Hobson in the Sunday Times, invoking Beckett, Ionesco, and Henry James, prompted a young impresario, Michael Codron, to set up a crucial meeting with Pinter at which he agreed to stage the dramatist's next play" (ODNB). This next play was The Birthday Party which, although it had a successful provincial tour, closed the same week it opened during its 1958 London run at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. Provenance: from the theatre collection of Clive Hirschhorn (b. 1940), who spent decades as the film and theatre critic for the Sunday Express. Hirschhorn's ownership inscription is in blue ink on the front pastedown. Octavo. Original black boards, spine lettered in gilt. With dust jacket. Ticket of Vanguard Booksellers, Johannesburg on front pastedown. Light foxing to top edge; jacket unclipped and a little rubbed, short closed tear to foot of rear panel, pencil price to front flap: a very good copy in like jacket. .