John Masefield — Easter: A Play for Singers

London, William Heinemann, 1929 . First edition. Cloth. The first edition of this short lyrical play from a former Poet Laureate, signed by the author. The signed first edition of this work, a Limited Edition, no. 257 of 375 copies signed by the author. In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper.A short play, only fifteen pages long, this slight work relays the the story of Easter through a singing cast of 'Persons and Spirits', including 'Anima Christi' and Mary Magdalen.The work of English writer and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930-1967, John Masefield. This work, along with a number of further works from Masefield based around Christian themes, encountered a ban on live performance due to the biblical subject matter. This rule dated from the Reformation, but had been revived a generation earlier to prevent production of Oscar Wilde's 'Salome&apos. In the publisher's original cloth binding, with price unclipped dust wrapper. Bumping to fore edge of rear board. Otherwise, externally excellent. Minor marks to dust wrapper, with small losses to tail of back strip and more significant losses to fold of rear flyleaf. Internally, firmly bound. Signed and numbered to limitation page. Pages clean and bright. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Very Good.