INHERIT THE WIND

(New York): (Random House), 1955. First edition (stated). Near fine in near fine jacket.. Association copy first printing of the famous play, inscribed by both authors to Bryna Untermeyer and Louis Untermeyer, the poet, editor, and critic who was an early supporter of the playwrighting duo. One of the best-known American plays of the 20th century, dramatizing the Scopes "Monkey" trial as fictionalized stand-ins for Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan battle for the sympathies of a jury and for the nation at large, with freedom of thought at issue and the contemporary threat of McCarthyism as underlying subtext. Though criticized in some quarters for dramatizing a little too much - Lawrence and Lee make free use of composite characters, invented confrontations, and heightened passions, in a play that has shaped public perceptions of this episode in American history for decades - the playwrights acquitted themselves of any charge of misleading audiences, maintaining (truthfully) in their prefatory note that INHERIT THE WIND is not transcribed newsreel footage but a work of art: "INHERIT THE WIND does not pretend to be journalism. It is theatre. It is not 1925...It might have been yesterday. It might be tomorrow." Notably adapted to film in 1960 by Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracey and Fredric March, and employing a screenwriter (Nedrick Young) who had himself been blacklisted.

This first printing of the play bears a heartfelt inscription to poet and critic Louis Untermeyer - himself a contemporary victim of blacklisting, pushed out of his role as a popular quiz show panelist due to suspect Communist associations and right-wing protests - and to Seventeen magazine editor Bryna Ivens (then married to Untermeyer): "To Louis and Bryna - with affection and gratitude from your literary god-sons / Jerry / Bob / - and we'd still be writing those endless radio shows if you hadn't led us to hard-back bindings." A rare association copy, in lovely condition. 8'' x 5.5''. Original grey cloth with black and white photographic paste-on to front board. Gilt-stamped publisher's device to front, gilt-lettered spine. In original unclipped ($2.75) dust jacket. [10], 162 pages. Title and facing page illustrated with black and white photographs. Bookplate mounted to front paste-down. Inscribed by Lawrence to front free endpaper; inscription signed by both Lawrence and Lee. Minor edgewear to boards. Jacket panels lightly toned; spine sunned; two very small closed tears to upper edges. In custom burgundy cloth clamshell box, backed in gilt-stamped burgundy leather, with illustrated paste-down mounted to front.