The Connection. Introduction by Kenneth Tynan. Photographs by John E. Wulp.

GELBER, Jack.

Published by New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1960

About this Item

First edition, presentation copy from the author, inscribed on the half-title "For Arthur Cowan, who has taken this damn book all over the world. God be with you. Jack Gelber." Cowan was a friend of Lillian Hellman and a "wealthy, eccentric, conservative Philadelphia lawyer who funded liberal causes" (Kornstein, p. 708). Hellman devotes a chapter to him in Pentimento (1973). The Connection, a hyper-realistic study of drug addicts, premiered at the Living Theater on 15 July 1959. "Although the New York Times critic excoriated the play as 'nothing more than a farrago of dirt, smalltime philosophy, empty talk and extended runs of cool music', the play became a huge off-Broadway hit, running for 722 performances and winning Obie awards for Gelber, director Judith Malina, and Warren Finnerty, the lead actor" (Michael Billington, Guardian obituary). Performances featured live jazz performances by pianist-composer Freddie Redd and in September 1960 Dexter Gordon joined the West Coast company. Hellman saw the play and commented in a 1962 interview: "I enjoyed it. It's a good show, but it's not a good play - like a fine time at the circus". Michael Billington, Jack Gelber obituary, The Guardian, 12 May 2002; Jackson R. Bryter, ed., Conversations with Lillian Hellman, 1986; Daniel J. Kornstein, "The Case Against Lilian Hellman: a Literary/Legal Defense", Fordham Law Review, Vol. 57, Issue 5, 1989. Octavo. With 9 half-tones from photographs (8 double-page). Original pictorial wrappers. Some light shelf wear, foot of spine a little chipped, offsetting to a couple of pages. A very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 144124

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Connection. Introduction by Kenneth Tynan. Photographs by John E. Wulp.
• Publisher: New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1960
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)