The Life of David Belasco

Two volume set, both dark blue cloth with gilt author signature on cover, gilt lettering on spine, untrimmed pages, 530pp and 563pp. Bumped corners and some fraying.
Vol. 1 inside cover starting but completely attached, with attached letter on inside cover als from Belasco to Hubert H. Harrison and dedication signature on ffep: To Mr. Hubert H. Harrison in Friendship David Belasco April 2nd 1926. A later description of book written in red ink on ffep (see all photos). Half-title page covered by tipped-in newspaper clipping of Harrison's play review ("Lulu Belle") printed in Amsterdam News 7-28-26. Contains 14 photogravures, and many halftones.
Vol. 2 has repaired section at top of spine, 14 photogravures, many halftones.

David Belasco (July 25, 1853 – May 14, 1931) was an American theatrical producer, impresario, director, and playwright and the first writer to adapt the short story Madame Butterfly for the stage. He launched the theatrical career of many actors, including James O'Neill, Mary Pickford, Lenore Ulric, and Barbara Stanwyck. Belasco pioneered many innovative new forms of stage lighting and special effects in order to create realism and naturalism.
Hubert Henry Harrison (April 27, 1883 – December 17, 1927) was a West Indian-American writer, orator, educator, critic, race and class conscious political activist, and radical internationalist based in Harlem, New York. This was Harrison's personal copy.

Harrison had written a glowing review (see photos) of Belasco's production of a controversial play that first ran on Broadway in 1926 to great success. This two-volume biography brings Belasco and Harrison together in an unlikely association copy.
Harrison has commented on and underlined various passages in the first half of Vol. 1.
An epic biography of a major theatrical producer, including beautiful photogravures, printed on thick stock.