Jean Cocteau; Carl Wildman [trans.] — The Infernal Machine, a Play in Four Acts

London, Oxford University Press Humphrey Milford, 1936 . First edition. Cloth. In the charmingly illustrated dust wrapper, this is a first UK edition of Jean Cocteau's' reworking of the Oedipus myth, translated and with an introductory essay by Carl Wildman. The first UK edition, first impression. Translated from the original French by Carl Wildman.In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.Jean Cocteau's play is based on the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus.The New York Times referred to The Infernal Machine as having taken 'characters familiar from Greek tragedy off their pedestals and wittily humanized them while remaining true to Sophocles's plot. Oedipus, instead of a tragic hero, is a cocky, virginal youth whose arrogance is matched by his colossal naïveté&apos.Inscription to front free endpaper. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, smart, with light edgewear to back strip tail and minor loss of cloth to back strip head. Rear hinge strained but firmly held. Inscription to front free endpaper. Dust wrapper age toned, most significantly to back strip and wrap perimeters, with small losses to back strip head and tail, light edgewear to wrap heads, and small closed tears to fold over front flyleaf. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Good.