Inscribed by the author on the title page: “Blithe Spirit, June 24, 76, to Joan, with love Harold”. The recipient is the actress Joan Hickson, who had starred in Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit under Pinter’s direction at The National Theatre, while he was in the throes of setting up home with Antonia Fraser after his divorce from Vivien Merchant.
In his diaries, Peter Hall recalls Pinter addressing the cast thus: “Noel Coward calls this play an improbable farce. Well, I just wish to make one thing clear - I do not regard it as improbable and I do not regard it as a farce.” Number 1941 of 2000 copies. Baker and Ross E14, binding B. A fine copy.
