Simon Gantillon; Virginia Vernon; Frank Vernon — Maya

Waltham Saint Lawrence, The Golden Cockerel Press, 1930 . First edition. Cloth. Limited first-edition Virginia Vernon translation of Gantillon's classic controversial play, illustrated by acclaimed engraver Blair Hughes-Stanton. First edition of the Vernon & Vernon translation. No. 292 of 500 copies.In the publisher's original cloth binding with gilt Golden Cockerel Press insignia.With 13 wood engravings by leading artist Blair Hughes-Stanton, including a frontispiece and five full-page illustrations. Collated, complete.Maya first premiered in 1924. The first publication in the original French followed shortly after and the initial English translation by Ernest Boyd in 1928. This edition is the second English translation, from American actress and playwright Virginia Fox-Brooks Vernon and her husband Frank Vernon, who prolifically translated French and Russian plays.From screenwriter and playwright Simon Gantillon. The play centers on the world of prostitute Bella and as such was hugely controversial upon its 1928 premiere in New York, becoming one of the first plays to be censored under the Wales Padlock Law. In 1949 the play was adapted into a film starring Vivian Romance, Marcel Dalio and Jean-Pierre Grenier. In the publisher's original cloth binding with gilt Golden Cockerel Press insignia. Externally, generally smart. Slight marking noticeable to the front board and small chip to the cloth along the front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Slight discolouration to the first and last pages, otherwise pages bright and clean throughout. Good . Ill.: Blair Hughes-Stanton. Good .