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STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 1
STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 2
STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 3
STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 4
STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 5
STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM. STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, image 6
Lot 77

STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM.
STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968.
Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout,

25 October 2023, 14:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$2,560 inc. premium

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STEINBECK'S WORKING COPY OF PIPE DREAM.

STEINBECK, JOHN. 1902-1968. Mimeographed Manuscript with Annotations, "Pipe Dream, Based on 'Sweet Thursday' by John Steinbeck / Music by Richard Rodgers / Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd," 188 pp, 4to, [n.p., n.d. but 1955], both Act I and Act II scenes tabbed throughout, bound in black slide-post covers with "Pipe Dream" written on tape to upper cover, annotated throughout by Steinbeck, minor thumbsoiling to leaves, some discoloration to upper cover. WITH: COVICI, PASCAL. Typed Manuscript Signed ("Pascal Covici, Jr."), titled "Sweet Thursday" and giving an overview of Steinbeck's career and latest work, 10 pp, 4to, [New York], May 1954, stapled at upper left corner, some thumbsoiling to leaves, toning at extremities, corners bumped. An enthusiastic review of Sweet Thursday by the author's editor.

Steinbeck had long wished to see one of his novels staged as a musical. When approached by Broadway producers Cy Feuer and Ernie Martin, Steinbeck offered to create new material featuring the Cannery Row characters, a work he would publish as Sweet Thursday. Initially Frank Loesser was to write the music, but when he committed elsewhere, Feuer and Martin approached the legendary Broadway duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Though Oscar Hammerstein was a little leery of the subject matter (the main character was the madam of a Monterey brothel), the two men accepted the job.

Sweet Thursday was published in novel form in early 1954 to mixed reviews. The musical moved forward, however, casting Met soprano Helen Traubel as Flora and just missing Julie Andrews as the romantic lead Suzy (she booked My Fair Lady instead). Initially charmed by the production, Steinbeck grew alarmed at the way Hammerstein obscured the nature of Fauna's business, feeling that the disparity between Doc's position in town and Suzy's livelihood was the central conflict to the story. If Suzy is not a prostitute, what's to prevent her relationship with Doc?

This manuscript is heavily edited throughout, with line deletions and emendations, movement of text, and rewrites. Steinbeck tightens dialogue, makes corrections, and adds notes about movement and speech.

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