Williams, Tennessee

The Eccentricities of a Nightingale / Summer and Smoke

New York, NY: New Directions, 1964. First Edition. Hardcover. This item is unique in that it straddles the line between a "First Edition" and a "First Edition Thus," as it was first completed by Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) in 1948 and titled "Summer and Smoke." Williams began work on the play in 1945, initially titling the work "Chart of Anatomy" and deriving the plot line from one of his short stories ("Oriflamme") and a play-in-progress titled "Yellow Bird." Williams had just enjoyed two bouts of breakthrough success with 1944's "The Glass Menagerie" & 1947's "A Streetcar Named Desire," both of which were massive hits on Broadway for Tennessee. "Summer and Smoke" was his follow-up to these blockbuster successes, but upon release it fell flat on its face--enduring a painfully short run on Broadway when it debuted in 1948. "Summer and Smoke" came back with a vengeance in 1952, where it enjoyed newfound success as an Off-Broadway hit. As you'll notice, "Summer and Smoke" is only one half of the title. The reason for this is because throughout the 1950s, Williams worked to revise "Summer and Smoke," and in 1964 it reemerged--this time rewritten as "The Eccentricities of a Nightingale." The play, set in "Glorious Hill, Mississippi" either in or sometime between 1900-1916, is built around "Alma Winemiller" and "John Buchanan Jr." She, a refined minister's daughter "...reaching up to something beyond attainment." He, "...a wild, undisciplined young doctor who grew up next door." The characters in the play cycle through a cat-&-mouse game of attractions, the male overtures of Mr. Buchanan first receiving a cold reception before he eventually loses interest. Alma, for her part, later becomes the sultry, unmarried, minister's daughter who aggressively pursues the once-wild, "...undisciplined young doctor." Whatever dull simplicity may be ascribed to the plot line certainly is absent from the play, made compelling of course by the fact that it was composed by one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th Century and as such does not disappoint. Critical reception of the play has warmed in recent years, where it has frequently found theater companies only too happy to put it on. Many have read "The Glass Menagerie" or "A Streetcar Named Desire," but no understanding of Williams is complete without acquainting oneself with this work, his follow-up to both of those legendary smash-hits. Hardcover in clipped dust-jacket, the unified First Edition of 1964. Book in very fine condition with only slight shelf-wear, sunning to fine-edges. Unrestored, clipped dust-jacket by famed illustrator Alvin Lustig in near fine condition with modest shelf-wear, tiny instances of chipping to fine-edges of front, back covers, spine; tiny bumps to corners of same; minor-to-pronounced rubbing to front, back covers; slight residue from former price sticker at interior front flap; slight, scattered spotting to spine and same; similar spotting to interior back flap near fine-edges. Very Fine / Near Fine. [Item #4715]

Price: $150.00