Contract for his famous play R.U.R.

CAPEK, KAREL. (1890-1938). Czech writer best remembered for coining the term “ robot ” in his 1921 play R.U.R. DS. (“K.C.”, “K.C.” and " Karel Capek "). 2pp. Small folio. New York, December 2, 1922. The Theater Guild contract for the English language publication of R.U.R. Although Capek’s literary style defies classification, many of his works are science fiction, the most popular being R.U.R., a play in which the struggle between man and machine is described using robots who destroy the human race. “Described as ‘murderous social satire’ by Alexander Woollcott and praised by the New York Sun as ‘a supermelodrama of action plus ideas,’ R.U.R. was attacked in the Philadelphia Public Ledger as Soviet propaganda which could just as well have been written by Lenin or Trotsky… Either despite or because of the controversy it stirred, the play was good for 184 performances in this Guild production… the following season it was done in London with comparable success, and has been popular in professional and university theater ever since,” (A Pictorial History of the Theatre Guild, Nadel). Capek’s writing, often critical of dictatorial regimes, put him in jeopardy at home. He was ranked as one of the Gestapo’s leading enemies in Czechoslovakia and he died while on a hunger strike, protesting the Nazi invasion of his homeland. His works include War with the Newts, The Makropoulos Affair, and the Anti-Nazi plays Power and Glory, The Mother and The White Disease. Our signed and twice initialed contract is folded with a paper clip mark at the bottom of the first page and minor tearing on two folds, not affecting the signature. Three other letters (not signed by Capek) concerning royalty payments and copyright accompany our document. Lower halves of each page have been separated by a fold tear. In good condition. Capek’s signature is rarely encountered.

Item #14371

Price: $2,500

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