A Streetcar Named Desire by Williams, Tennessee - 1947

(NY): New Directions, 1947. First edition. This is Williams's most famous play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the year it was published. Legend has it that the audience applauded for half an hour after the debut performance ended. Williams also wrote the screenplay for the 1951 film, which garnered fame equal to (and perhaps surpassing) that of the original play, with defining performances by Marlon Brando and Vivien Leigh. However, many of the more sensitive aspects of the play, such as Blanche's rape and references to homosexuality, were altered or omitted in order to comply with the film industry's censorship codes. A near fine copy in printed boards, with minor edgewear, primarily at the head and foot of the spine, and faint fading to spine and board edges. The dust wrapper is faded at the spine, with light wear to head and foot, splits starting along the flap folds, and two short closed tears at the edge. Otherwise a near fine example of a book that is notoriously difficult to find in such a state.