The Vegetable
- New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1923
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1923. First edition. Fine/Near Fine. A Fine copy in a Very Good+ dust jacket. A tight, square copy with bright gilt to spine. Dust jacket with minor rubbing and wear at the spine ends and one small chip from the lower spine fold. Front flap fold splitting at the lower edge (about 2.5"), but generally an attractive example, and unrestored.
Fitzgerald's only play, a satire on the American Presidency. "A resounding theatrical flop [that was] published by Scribeners on 27 April, 1923 in a print run of 7,650 copies retailing at $1.50, it opened for a week's trial on 19 November 1923 at Nixon's Apollo Theatre in Atlantic City...The first night was a debacle, with, as Zelda Fitzgerald put it in a letter, 'people so obviously bored' and some audience members walking out during the second act" (Tredell, Bruccoli). There is now conjecture that The Vegetable's problems stemmed from Fitzgerald's desire to focus on another project at hand: the development of The Great Gatsby. "He had begun to plan the novel in June, 1923, saying to Maxwell Perkins 'I want to write something new – something extraordinary and beautiful'...But that summer and fall was devoted to the production of The Vegetable" (Mizener). Rare on the market due to its limited print run, The Vegetable is a testament to the diversity of Fitzgerald's literary career; and though his only attempt on the stage was not the soaring success he'd hoped for, Fitzgerald would ultimately find fame in Hollywood with his works capturing the imagination of Golden Age directors and actors. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.
Fitzgerald's only play, a satire on the American Presidency. "A resounding theatrical flop [that was] published by Scribeners on 27 April, 1923 in a print run of 7,650 copies retailing at $1.50, it opened for a week's trial on 19 November 1923 at Nixon's Apollo Theatre in Atlantic City...The first night was a debacle, with, as Zelda Fitzgerald put it in a letter, 'people so obviously bored' and some audience members walking out during the second act" (Tredell, Bruccoli). There is now conjecture that The Vegetable's problems stemmed from Fitzgerald's desire to focus on another project at hand: the development of The Great Gatsby. "He had begun to plan the novel in June, 1923, saying to Maxwell Perkins 'I want to write something new – something extraordinary and beautiful'...But that summer and fall was devoted to the production of The Vegetable" (Mizener). Rare on the market due to its limited print run, The Vegetable is a testament to the diversity of Fitzgerald's literary career; and though his only attempt on the stage was not the soaring success he'd hoped for, Fitzgerald would ultimately find fame in Hollywood with his works capturing the imagination of Golden Age directors and actors. Fine in Near Fine dust jacket.