Description

Franklin Library leather edition of Eugene O'Neill's "Four Plays," Illustrated by Fred Otnes, a Limited edition, one of the 100 GREATEST MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LITERATURE series, published in 1979. Bound in brown leather, the book has brown French moire silk end leaves, a satin book marker, hubbed spine, acid-free paper, Symth-sewn binding, gold gilding on three edges---in near FINE condition. Eugene O'Neill, who lived from 1888-1953, won four PULITZER PRIZES and was the first American playwright to be awarded the NOBEL PRIZE for Literature. O'Neill attended Betts Academy and spent a year at Princeton in 1906. In 1914, the Washington Square Players was born, an off-Broadway group that later became the PROVINCETOWN PLAYERS on Cape Cod. The four plays in this volume include: "Strange Interlude,"---called the sage of Everywoman through the heroine, Nina Leeds"; "A Touch of the Poet," "A Moon for the Misbegotten," and "Mourning Becomes Electra," regarded by many as O'Neill's masterpiece." "Homecoming," the first play in the "Mourning" trilogy opens in late spring in front of the Mannon house. The master of the house, Brigadier-General Ezra Mannon, is soon to return from war. Lavinia, Ezra's severe daughter, like her mother Christine, has just returned from a trip to New York. Seth, the gardener, takes Lavinia aside. He warns her against her would-be beau, Captain Brant. In "The Hunted," Act I Peter, Lavinia, and Orin arrive at the house. Orin disappointedly complains of his mother's absence. He jealously asks Lavinia about what she wrote him regarding Christine and Brant. Lavinia warns him against believing Christine's lies. Suddenly Christine hurries out, reproaching Peter for leaving Orin alone. Mother and son embrace jubilantly. Finally, in "The Haunted" Act I, scene 1 A year later, Lavinia and Orin return from their trip East. Lavinia's body has lost its military stiffness and she resembles her mother perfectly. Orin has grown dreadfully thin and bears the statue-like attitude of his father. O'Neill has obviously patterned "Mourning Becomes Electra" on the Greek play by Aeschylus in the "Oresteia" trilogy. 531 pages---ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS book! I offer Combined shipping.