Creative Criticism: Essays on the Unity of Genius and Taste

First edition. Small octavo. Blue cloth gilt. Scattered foxing, tiny tears at the crown, Bookplate of Barrett H. Clark, and warmly Inscribed by Spingarn to Clark. Clark was an exceptionally important figure in modern American drama, aside from authoring many books, he served as the longtime literary editor for the drama publisher Samuel French. Spingarn was arguably one of the 20th Century White America's premier advocates of racial equality and a vital force in the organized improvement of the lives of African-Americans. He was one of the founders of the NAACP, and served at various times as President, Treasurer and Chairman of the Board. He helped to organize over 300 chapters and was tireless in his efforts to foster integration. He endowed the Spingarn Medal, still awarded annually for "the highest and noblest achievement of an American Negro during the preceding year." He was active in encouraging African-American literature, founding an annual literary award, and was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance.…