BURNING BRIGHT

New York: Viking Press, 1950. First edition. About fine in near fine jacket.. First printing of Steinbeck's experimental work, an amalgam of play and novel similar to OF MICE AND MEN. Expanding on the idea first developed in OF MICE AND MEN - adapting aspects of the theater into the structure of a novel - Steinbeck wrote this "play in story form" about the birth of a long-awaited child. The book was staged the same year with Rodgers and Hammerstein as producers. Neither the book nor the play did well, but Steinbeck didn't seem to mind: "We were kicked around like dogs, but I still want to do it. This shows a truly pure quality of stupidity. Just nuts. I'm so fascinated by everything about the theatre I don't really care if the show's a flop" (Interview, NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, 18 September 1952). A lovely copy. 7.5'' x 4.75''. Original full tan cloth, front board and spine lettered in red. Original unclipped ($2.50) dust jacket in yellow, grey, and orange. Orange topstain. 159, [1] pages. Lightest edgewear to jacket extremities. Tiny spot to fore edge. Overall clear and bright.