Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Albee, Edward - 1962

New York: Atheneum, 1962. First edition of Albee's classic work. Octavo, original black cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front endpage, "For _____, ______ & ______ _______ Edward Albee Dec. 7. 1962 N.Y.C." Fine in an excellent near fine dust jacket with some wear to the crown and foot of the spine. A nice example, uncommon inscribed in the year of publication. Edward Albee’s "masterpiece his account of a couple’s long-night’s journey into dawn is also-deeply and truly-a love story" (New York Times). Albee described his first three-act play as the depiction of the desire to "try to claw our way into compassion" (Hart 9). The Village Voice calls Albee's play "[a]n irreplaceable experiencea crucial event in the birth of contemporary American theater!" Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? went on to win the 1963 Tony Award for Best Play and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play. Basis for the 1966 film adaptation directed by Mike Nichols that starred Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.