John Patrick — The Hasty Heart

New York, Random House, 1945 . First edition. Cloth. A smart signed first edition, first printing of John Patrick"s wartime Broadway drama, warmly inscribed by the playwright, complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper. In the publisher's original blue cloth binding. First edition, first printing. Published in the same year as the original Broadway production, which opened at the Hudson Theatre on 3 January 1945, and ran for 204 performances.  Signed and inscribed by the author to the front free endpaper: "To dear Clive, in the hope he will visit me as promised, best, John Patrick."  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. Illustrated with a monochrome photographic frontispiece, and one further photograhic plate preceding Act Two.  In the publisher"s original dust wrapper, price unclipped; the flap corners have been slightly trimmed. A wartime drama set in a convalescent ward behind the Assam-Burmese front, centred on Lachlan, a proud and difficult Scottish soldier who does not know he is dying. The play was later adapted into the 1949 film starring Richard Todd, Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal; Richard Todd received an Academy Award nomination for his performance.  In the publisher's original blue cloth binding. Externally, very smart. Slight rubbing to extremities. Dust wrapper, very smart. Sight edge wear resulting in one or two chips, closed tears, and creases to extremities. Slight sunning to spine. Very light soiling with one or two light marks to wraps. Flaps slightly trimmed. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Signed and inscribed by the author to the half title. Near Fine . Ill.: None Stated. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.