FRY, Christopher; Ronald SEARLE ( illustrator ). A Phoenix too Frequent.

FRY, Christopher; Ronald SEARLE ( illustrator ). A Phoenix too Frequent.FRY, Christopher; Ronald SEARLE (illustrator). A Phoenix too Frequent. London: Oxford University Press. 1959. 8vo. Publishers black cloth with small silver illustration to front board and lettered in silver to spine, illustrated dust jacket by Searle with printed price of 15s. to front flap; pp. [12], 77, [3]; toning to jacket, wearing and a little creasing to jacket edges with slight chipping to crown and base of spine, stain to back flap and rear

FRY, Christopher; Ronald SEARLE (illustrator). A Phoenix too Frequent. London: Oxford University Press. 1959.

8vo. Publisher’s black cloth with small silver illustration to front board and lettered in silver to spine, illustrated dust jacket by Searle with printed price of 15s. to front flap; pp. [12], 77, [3]; toning to jacket, wearing and a little creasing to jacket edges with slight chipping to crown and base of spine, stain to back flap and rear endpaper, bumping to crown and base of spine and slight wearing to cloth at edges; very good.

First Searle illustrated edition, inscribed by the author.

A Phoenix Too Frequent is a one-act stage comedy in bank verse. It was originally produced at the Mercury Theatre, London in 1946. The action is based on Petronius’ story of the Ephesian widow who is determined to die upon her husband’s tomb. However, she is prevented from killing herself by a young soldier; his introduction to the action brings with it many conflicts.

The play was first published in 1946. This edition, with the haunting and brilliant illustrations by Ronald Searle, was published in 1959. This copy has been inscribed by Christopher Fry in blue ink to the front free endpaper. His message reads, "To Willy and Talli for Christmas 1959 with much love from Phyl and Christopher.”

SKU: 2121787