MAUGHAM, Somerset The Constant Wife. A comedy in three acts.

8vo., publisher’s glazed black cloth with two contrasting yellow title labels lettered and ruled in black to upper cover and backstrip; outer edge untrimmed; together in the yellow printed dustwrapper (priced $2.00 net to spine) which contains numerous reviews of both the present play and others, as well as several of Maugham’s other works; pp. [xii], 11-216, [ii]; with photographic frontis of Ethel Barrymore; an excellent, fresh copy, a little scuffed at corners and spine tips, the backstrip a little yellowed; some light toning to the text block and some marking from the bookplate residue to the front paste-down; early New York bookseller sticker to the rear paste-down; the wrapper a little shelf darkened to panels, with a couple of ink stains to the lower and some light rubbing/nicking to extremities; one neat tape repair to the verso. A very good example overall. Provenance: Previously in the collection of Edward Wassermann, with his Ex Libris tipped in to the front paste-down. 

Early edition, with the first US dustwrapper correctly priced to backstrip. This copy warmly inscribed by Maugham to the front free endpaper: “For Eddie Wassermann / W. Somerset Maugham”. Above, Maugham has boldly written ‘The author’s favourite play’ in the same pen. 

Maugham’s marital comedy concerning infidelity and ill manners revolves around Constance Middleton, who has for a long time been well aware of the affair between her husband and her best friend, Marie-Louise. As the full extent is publicly exposed, Constance chooses to embrace the opportunity to create an independent life for herself, starting a new job, paying her husband for room and board, and taking on her own lover. 

First appearing at the Ohio Theatre in Cleveland on November 1st 1926, Ethel Barrymore (pictured here) played the title role, and so enamoured was Maugham with the casting that the book is even dedicated to her. He later claimed that her performance was the best he had seen in any of his plays.

This book previously in the collection of Clive Hirschhorn, the prominent author, film historian, and former journalist who served as theatre critic for The Sunday Express from 1966 to 1995. Hirschhorn is noted for conducting what is considered to be Judy Garland’s final interview, and throughout his career he interviewed such stars as Gene Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Jack Nicholson, Tennessee Williams, and numerous others. 

SKU: 1800238