R. U. R.: Rossum's Universal Robots - The Robot Play - Original November 1923 Theatre Programme for the Opera House, Manchester - 1st Provincial Tour
by Karel ČAPEK / Paul SELVER / Nigel PLAYFAIR
- Used
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- Very Good-
- Seller
-
Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Near Very Good condition with a brief note in pen to the corner of the front cover "Visited with EGB Saturday, 17 November 1923". No other inscriptions. Includes cast list and period advertisements.
The play introduced the word "robot" to the English language and to science fiction as a whole. It premiered in Prague in 1921 and was translated from Czech into English by Paul Selver in 1922. The American première was at the Garrick Theatre in New York City on October 9th, 1922, where it ran for 184 performances, a production in which Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien played robots in their Broadway debuts. London first saw the play at St. Martin's Theatre on April 24th, 1923, a production that included Basil Rathbone as "Harry Domain". Capek first utilised the word 'robot' (from the Czech robota) to refer to a mechanical humanoid machine, displacing older words such as "automaton" or "android" in languages around the world. Karel Čapek named his brother Josef as the true inventor of the word. Isaac Asimov, author of the Robot Series of books and creator of the Three Laws of Robotics, stated: "Capek's play is, in my own opinion, a terribly bad one, but it is immortal for that one word. It contributed the word 'robot' not only to English but, through English, to all the languages in which science fiction is now written."
The play introduced the word "robot" to the English language and to science fiction as a whole. It premiered in Prague in 1921 and was translated from Czech into English by Paul Selver in 1922. The American première was at the Garrick Theatre in New York City on October 9th, 1922, where it ran for 184 performances, a production in which Spencer Tracy and Pat O'Brien played robots in their Broadway debuts. London first saw the play at St. Martin's Theatre on April 24th, 1923, a production that included Basil Rathbone as "Harry Domain". Capek first utilised the word 'robot' (from the Czech robota) to refer to a mechanical humanoid machine, displacing older words such as "automaton" or "android" in languages around the world. Karel Čapek named his brother Josef as the true inventor of the word. Isaac Asimov, author of the Robot Series of books and creator of the Three Laws of Robotics, stated: "Capek's play is, in my own opinion, a terribly bad one, but it is immortal for that one word. It contributed the word 'robot' not only to English but, through English, to all the languages in which science fiction is now written."
Extended Description and Notes
The Robot Play - 1923 First UK Provincial Tour
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Details
- Bookseller
- Itchen Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 773
- Title
- R. U. R.: Rossum's Universal Robots - The Robot Play - Original November 1923 Theatre Programme for the Opera House, Manchester - 1st Provincial Tour
- Author
- Karel ČAPEK / Paul SELVER / Nigel PLAYFAIR
- Format/Binding
- Printed paper wrappers. Staple bound.
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good-
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Binding
- Paperback
- Publisher
- Exchange Printing Co
- Place of Publication
- Manchester
- Date Published
- 1923
- Pages
- 8
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- Theatre ; Play ; Playwright ; Playbill ; Programme ; Science Fiction ; Robot ; RUR ; Czech ; Czechoslovakia ; Czech Republic ;
Terms of Sale
Itchen Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged. Refund issued on receipt of returned item.
About the Seller
Itchen Books
Biblio member since 2019
Husbands Bosworth, Leicestershire
About Itchen Books
20th Century first editions with some older items. Specialist areas of interest include Russian literature, Irish literature.
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