Books

Paris, Les Editions de Minuit, 1952. . First trade edition, first printing (only preceded by the private edition of just 35 numbered copies); small 8vo; somewhat browned internally as always with the papier courant issue; original wrappers printed in blue and black, in the very early, if not original glassine, vertical crease to backstrip, else very good. Effectively the earliest obtainable manifestation of Godot.Written between October 1948 and January 1949, the play was not produced until January 1953, with Roger Blin directing at the Theatre de Babylone (the English language version premiered some two years later in London). First published in September 1952 by Les Editions de Minuit, ahead of the first full performance, only 2500 copies were printed. Thirty 'reviewers came to the générale of En attendant Godot before the public opening... Contrary to later legend, the reviewers were kind... Some dozen reviews in daily newspapers range[d] from tolerant to enthusiastic...…

One of the most important works of modernist literature, Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is a play in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait for the arrival of someone named Godot who never arrives, and while waiting they engage in a variety of discussions and encounter several other characters.