THE KINGDOM OF EARTH WITH HARD CANDY: A BOOK OF STORIES.
(New York: New Directions, 1954). 248 x 152 mm. (9 3/4 x 6"). 242 pp. (cancel title page tipped-in, as in all copies). No. 15 OF 100 COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR.
Publisher's linen-backed patterned paper boards, flat spine with author's name in gilt. In original blue cardboard slipcase with paper title label on front cover. Crandell A13.I.b. ◆One small, only vaguely visible discolored spot at head of spine, otherwise a mint copy, with leaves that open only reluctantly.
This is one of a relatively small number of surviving copies of this limited edition, which Williams had privately printed when publishers balked at the explicit sexual content of the short stories. How many copies exist is a matter of dispute: according to Andreas Brown of the Gotham Book Market, about 80 of the 100 copies were destroyed in storage; however, Crandell indicates that as many as 136 copies may have been issued, with the extra copies available for the author's private use, but that perhaps all but about 10 numbered copies and 20 presentation copies were destroyed. (However plentiful, the copies for presentation are encountered more frequently in commerce than are numbered copies.) The stories in this collection are: "Three Players of a Summer Game," "Two on a Party," "The Resemblance between a Violin Case and a Coffin," "Hard Candy," "Rubio y Morena," "The Mattress by the Tomato Patch," "The Coming of Something to the Widow Holly," "The Vine," "The Mysteries of the Joy Rio" (an earlier version of "Hard Candy"), and "The Kingdon of Earth." Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams (1911-83) is best known as one of America's greatest playwrights, but he was a prolific writer who also penned novels ("The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone"), poetry, and short stories. Forbidden sexual desire was a recurring theme in his works, and their explicit nature often caused problems with publication or production; most film adaptations of his works have had their content altered considerably. (ST11888)
Price: $1,750.00