[Rarebooks] FS: Complete Handwritten MANUSCRIPT of Saul Bellow's Only Play
Charles Agvent
charles at charlesagvent.com
Wed Oct 9 10:52:25 EDT 2019
The price of this unique piece was recently reduced.
BELLOW, Saul. THE LAST ANALYSIS. HOLOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT OF SAUL BELLOW'S
ONLY PLAY. First Edition. An undated early holograph version of Saul
Bellow's only full-length play contained in a ledger-type notebook
(8-1/4" x 11-3/8") with marbled paper boards and a black cloth spine.
Bellow has subtitled this as "A Work in Progress." Acts I and II of this
version are complete in 71 pages with 4 pages of preliminary material
for an Act III, all handwritten by Bellow. The 1964 staged version was
reduced to two acts. Bellow appears to have written out Acts I & II as a
fair copy from previous versions and notes in preparation for completing
the play with a new Act III. There are relatively few insertions and
corrections in his text of the first two acts which take up about 75% of
the notebook. The third act consists mostly of blank pages with 3 pages
of rough notes and key speeches including what seem to be the climactic
lines of his main character, the comedian Bummidge, who has been
undergoing an obsessive self-analysis in the previous acts: "The world
was never real for me. But now I see it's more real than I was. I never
admitted that it existed. It always knew I was here (he goes around
picking up objects & kissing them because they're real).... Now what is
the theory. Not Momma's womb but my own empty heart?" Laid in to the
notebook is a SIGNED typed 12-page fragment of an earlier version of the
play, with Bellow's original title, THE CRASH PROGRAM, crossed out in
ink and his new title, THE LAST ANALYSIS, written over it. Bellow
manuscripts of this size and importance are seldom offered with most
already housed in institutional collections. Near Fine and quite
exceptional. (#013988) $20,000.00
https://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/013988.html
--
All books subject to prior sale. Cash with order; institutions may be
billed. Postage additional: $11.00 for the first item; $5.00 for each
thereafter. Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania
residents must add 6% sales tax. Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and
Discover accepted. Books may be returned within 7 days of receipt for
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value. We carry a
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century
Literary First Editions, Signed Books, Presidential Autographs,
Illustrated Books, and the world's largest inventory of Limited Editions
Club books. *We have been in business since 1987 and are proud to be
members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and
the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).* Please feel
free to contact us with any wants or offerings. Thank you.
CHARLES AGVENT
37 Ridge Drive
Fleetwood, PA 19522-9638
484-575-8825
info at charlesagvent.com
Please visit our shop: https://www.charlesagvent.com
--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com
More information about the Rarebooks
mailing list