A Play
Doctors of Philosophy A Play
Macmillan, 1963.
First edition. Original blue boards lettered in gilt to the spine, in the pictorial dustwrapper. Author's presentation, inscribed to her landlady of many years at Baldwin Crescent, 'Tiny' Lazzari, "For darling Tiny with love Muriel 29 May 1963". A very good copy indeed, in a very good dustwrapper which has a short closed tear to the upper panel and a little wear to the spine ends.
A fine association, inscribed to a "crucial figure in her life" (Stannard).
"Muriel left Allington Castle in August 1955... She longed to reconnect herself to the normality - and anonymity - of the metropolis... Father O'Malley had a niece, Teresa Walshe, who lodged with a Catholic landlady. It was one of the best introductions Muriel ever received. 'Tiny' Lazzari was a vivacious, chirruping Irish widow with a Cork accent, small of stature, big of heart." (Stannard - Muriel Spark: The Biography)
During the ten years Spark stayed at Bedford Crescent she established herself as one of the pre-eminent post war British novelists. During that period Lazzari became an important figure in Spark's life, acting as sounding board, confidant and (when required) gatekeeper as well as a close friend.
"Evelyn Waugh once wrote to me to say that now I was becoming established I should move to a good address. On paper, the advice was of course very wise. But nothing would part me from Tiny Lazzari and my rooms at 13 Baldwin Crescent" (Spark - Curriculum Vitae)
Stock ID: 36795
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