Translator James Clark's corrected typescript of the English version of Max Brod's theatre adaptation of Franz Kafka's novel 'The Castle' [Das Schloss], with typescript of translation of essay by Brod, press cuttings, programme and advertisement.

Author: 
James Clark [James Royston Clark] (b.1923), son of Dorothy Eckersley, traitor, and second-in-command in Berlin to Nazi collaborator 'Lord Haw Haw' [William Joyce] [Franz Kafka; Max Brod]
Publication details: 
Nine items from 1963 and one (programme) from 1969. Typescript stamped 'Please return to: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 62/64 Gower St W.C.1.'
£400.00
SKU: 11951

Ten items, in good condition, on lightly-aged paper. ONE: Typescript titled 'THE CASTLE | A play in three acts (nine scenes) based on Franz Kafka's novel THE CASTLE | by MAX BROD | translated by James Clark | All rights reserved | 1963'. [viii] + 98 + [i] pp., 8vo. With two-hole metal punchbinding; in original blue wraps. Prepared by 'Scripts Limited' of Wardour St. With a few minor emendations in pencil. TWO: Two copies (typescript and carbon) of a paper entitled 'On Dramatizing Kafka's "The Castle" | by Max Brod' (3pp., folio). THREE: Programme (1p., folio) for the Vanbrugh Theatre, Summer 1963. Printed in blue. The production of 'The Castle' is listed on 5, 6, 7 and 8 June. FOUR: Carbon of typed letter [from Clark] to Miss Stefani Hunziger at S. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt-am-Main, 3 June 1963. 1p., 4to. He thanks her for the copy of Kafka's novel: 'While translating Dr. Max Brod's play, I worked in very close contact with the original novel, and I think this helped me in my efforts to achieve a perfect acting version in English. That copy was borrowed from the public library, so I am now very pleased to have a copy of my own.' He concludes: 'Now we are all hoping that Milo Sperber's R.A.D.A. production will lead to the play becoming known in the English-speaking world, and to commercial productions.' FIVE: Copy of 'STAGE | The Program for the John Fernald Company of the Meadow Brook Theatre', vol.3, no.5 (12 February-8 March [1969]). 20pp., 4to. In green printed self-wraps. Includes 'Who's Who' of cast and crew, including Milo Sperber but omitting Clark. SIX to TEN. Five newspaper cuttings of reviews of productions of the play, all from 1963: Maurice Hatton in the Guardian (with photograph); Eric Shorter in the Daily Telegraph; 'C. L.' in the Jewish Chronicle; and an anonymous article in The Times. None of the reviewers appears aware that the translator of the play was Lord Haw Haw''s 'Number Two'.