Description
A scarce first printing of Mister Roberts: A Play, signed by the authors, Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan.
Octavo, xii, [2], 162pp. Blue cloth, title in gilt on spine, lightly rubbed. Stated “first printing” on copyright page. Loss to bottom corner of front panel, cut and worn, not affecting text block. In publisher’s dust jacket, price-clipped, light shelf wear, some loss along bottom edge at spine, closed tears along top edge, an overall very good example.
Signed by both authors: “For John Fearnley – Who helped us with the cast and was always an encouraging face – except of course to Jo Marr before the five days were up – Tom Heggen / Josh Logan. 10 June 1948.”
Originally titled The Iron-Bound Bucket, Mister Roberts was first published in book form in 1946 and sold over 1 million copies. Thomas Heggen was an overnight literary sensation. The book was converted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway production in 1948, then an Academy Award-winning movie in 1955, with Henry Fonda as Mister Roberts and James Cagney playing Captain Morton. The recipient of this book, John Fearnley, was a Tony Award-nominated Director, Stage Manager and Casting Director on Broadway. He worked closely with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for over a decade. He directed revivals of Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on Brigadoon. He died in 1994.
