Clifford Odets — Awake and Sing a Play in Three Acts

New York, Random House Publishers, 1935. First edition. Cloth. A scarce first edition of this domestic class commentary, once owned by critic Clive Hirschhorn. From the theatrical collection of Clive Hirschhorn, theatre critic for the Sunday Express from 1966 to 1993. Known for his witty and thorough reviews, features and interviews, Hirschhorn also authored several works on the film industry, including his critically acclaimed biographies of Hollywood stars, Gene Kelly and James Mason. A renowned book collector, the majority of works from Hirschhorn"s incredible library of theatre-related material have a characteristic pencil inscription with his date of acquisition to the upper corner of the paste down. A scarce first edition in original binding, with original dust wrapper. Clipped, but with original price intact.  By American playwright, screenwriter and actor Clifford Odets. His work inspired writers such as Arthur Miller, Paddy Chayefsky and Neil Simon. The play follows the Berger family, as they live in poverty, and the parents try to manipulate their children's relationships in order to escape it.  The play was noted for its in medias res beginning, its working class focus, and for being the first Broadway play to entirely focus on a Jewish family.   Bound in original brown cloth. With original dust wrapper, clipped, but with original price intact. Externally, very smart. Moderate scattered spotting to boards. Mild age toning to endpapers. Bookseller sticker to front paste down. Dust wrapper very smart. Mild chipping to extremities. Moderate sunning to spine and extremities. Internally, firmly bound. Pages generally bright and clean, with vertical striped design to pages. Pages roughly cut to base of pp.49-52, 65-66. Pages mildly unevenly cut to pp.35-36, 83-84, 97-100, 113-114. Near Fine . Ill.: None. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.