Between the Covers

Hardcover. In 1981, Albee, the three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Charleston in West Virginia. His speech, on his own education or lack thereof, and on how one is forever "wounded" by the responsibilities of an education, was published in a wrappered, signed edition of 200 copies by Mountain State Press, with an additional 50 signed hardcover copies distributed by university professor William Plumley's own Parchment Press.

This archive documents that publication. It includes:

1. Albee's hand-corrected typed manuscript of his speech, nine pages, with "The Wounding: An Essay on Education" listed as a possible title. Approximately a dozen small corrections in Albee's hand and with an Autograph Note Signed by Albee to Bill Plumley dated July, 1981, transmitting the typescript, and asking Plumley to send *Lolita* back

2. An uncorrected photocopy of Albee's typescript, with a copy of the colophon as it is printed in the book.

3. Copy No. 1 of the 50 hardcover copies of *The Wounding* Signed by Albee. Fine in a fine dust jacket (and with three extra copies of the jacket, folded).

4. A copy of the typescript of the (unattributed) remarks used to introduce Albee at the commencement ceremony, with an envelope addressed to Plumley from "J.P." In the preceding months, Albee's Broadway play adaptation of Nabokov's *Lolita* had opened and closed after 12 performances (and 31 previews), and the introductory remarks diplomatically attempt to explain Albee's temporary fall from box office grace.

5. Four periodicals from the time, each Inscribed by Albee on their covers to Plumley: *The New Republic* (April 11, 1981); *Newsweek* and *Time* (March 30, 1981); and *The New Yorker* (March 23, 1981). The last announces the opening of *Lolita*; the first three contain reviews of the play, one of which (*The New Republic*) is briefly quoted in the introductory remarks to Albee's speech.

An interesting archive, which documents a noteworthy commencement speech by a preeminent American playwright of perhaps the most critical savaging of his career. It is perhaps not surprising that the title of the talk and the book is *The Wounding* and that Albee takes great pains to express the wounding -- by civilization, by education, and by our own natures -- as something to be grateful for, that distinguishes us as humans, and makes us members of the same "club." The hardcover edition is rare; the archival material is unique.

Item #422750