Rampenlicht: Koepfe der Literatur und des Theaters [INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR TO ACTOR ERNST DEUTSCH]

Buenos Aires: Editorial Cosmopolita, 1945. First edition. Hardcover. fair. 8vo. 206pp. Half-cloth with lettering on spine over paper-covered boards in original illustrated dust jacket after a drawing by Arthur Reiss. Inscribed by author in blue ink on free front endpaper: "Ernst Deutsch. Zur Erinnerung an die Aufführungen von "Gespenster" - 31. Mai 1946, "Liebe einer Fremden" - 7. Juni 1946, "Gesellschaft" - 17. Juni 1946 und die "Abel' - Uraufführung am 24. Juni 1946 in der Freien Deutschen Bühne in Buenos Aires, P. Walter Jacob." Ernst Deutsch aka Ernest Dorian (1890-1969) was an Austrian actor, most widely known to English-speaking audiences as Baron Kurtz in the 1949 film-noir, The Third Man. "Rampenlicht: Koepfe der Literatur und des Theaters" (Spotlight: Heads of literature and theater) looks at leading artists in the world of literature and theater. P. Walter Jacob (1905-1977) was a director, actor and conductor. In 1933 he fled from Nazi Germany after he received warning of his impending arrest. After living in Holland and France he ended up in Argentina in 1939 and a year later founded the theater "Freie deutsche Bühne" (Free German Stage) in Buenos Aires. In 1949 he returned to Germany with his wife, Liselott Reger. With contributions by Thomas Mann, G. B. Shaw, Leo Kraus, Fred Heller, Balder Olden, Frank Wedekind, and others. The book also looks at personalities such as Erich Müsam, Sarah Bernhardt, Conrad Veidt, Albert Bassermann, Max Reinhardt, Stefan Zweig, and more. Illustrated with 20 reproduction of portrait sketches by Arthur Reiss of all artists covered in this work. Tail of spine slightly bumped. Tearing, chipping and staining on dj. Pages heavily age toned. Fair to good condition. Unique Exile Literature 'association copy'. Bibliographical reference: Sternfeld/Tiedemann 234.