O'Neill, Eugene (1888–1953)

Dynamo [1929 Art Deco Jacket] [Horace Liveright Imprint]

New York: Horace Liverwright, 1929. Second Printing. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.

A strikingly preserved example of Eugene O’Neill’s 1929 exploration of technology and religion, issued during the height of the American Art Deco movement. This copy features the iconic Liveright 'wave' binding design and the original second-state dust jacket with bold graphic appeal.

KEY FEATURES 
+++ Visuals: Stunning Art Deco dust jacket featuring a stylized portrait of O'Neill on the rear panel. 
+++ Binding: Publisher’s teal-green cloth with a stylized gilt-stamped 'wave' on the front board and O'Neill’s signature in gilt. 
+++ Content: A play in three acts; O'Neill revised this text specifically for this Liveright publication following its 1929 premiere. 
+++ Associated Names: Features a glowing review on the jacket flap by legendary New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson. 
+++ Imprint: Published by the avant-garde Horace Liveright, known for producing the most visually daring trade books of the 1920s. 
+++ Specs: [8.25] inches tall / 159 pages. Top edge stained blue as issued; decorated endpapers.

CONDITION: Near Fine / Very Good -- The binding is tight, square, and exceptionally sharp. Text is clean with light, even toning. The dust jacket remains vibrant despite a sun-toned spine and minor rubbing at the extremities. A remarkably well-preserved survivor of the Jazz Age.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE --
Eugene O'Neill wrote 'Dynamo' during 1927 and 1928, envisioning it as part of a trilogy (never completed) dealing with the search for spiritual meaning in a machine-driven world. Coming off the massive success of 'Strange Interlude', O'Neill used 'Dynamo' to push the boundaries of theatrical expressionism.

The publisher, Horace Liveright, was the 'Bad Boy' of 1920s publishing, responsible for launching the careers of Faulkner and Hemingway. His trade editions were designed to be 'modern art for the masses,' a philosophy clearly visible in the deco binding and jacket of this 1929 release.

SUBJECTS: American Drama, Art Deco, Horace Liveright, 1920s Literature, Technology in Art, Expressionism, Modernism, Modern Firsts, Drama, Jazz Age Design

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE Atkinson A31-1-1-a.

Item #21569

Price: $45.00