[ Murder mystery concerning crime writers in 1950s London. ] Two typewritten drafts of the play '"Death in Act IV" by Basil Francis', accompanied by Typed Letter Signed from the author to theatre historian W. Macqueen-Pope.

ONE: Letter. 1p., landscape 12mo. Aged and creased. Addressed to 'My dear Popie'. He is sending the revised version of the play, 'which has been tightened up considerably from the earlier draft', asking whether it has 'commercial possibilities', or 'stinks'. He feels that five minutes with Pope gives him 'more practical dope on the theatre than 5 years at the RADA!' TWO: Early typescript of 'Death in Act IV'. The letter ends with a reference to 'Fanny K', Francis's 1950 biography 'Fanny Kelly of Drury Lane'. 68pp., 8vo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. The scene of what may well be a drame à clef is entirely set at 'Peter Savernake's flat in Cadogan Mews, Chelsea', apart from one scene at 'Det. Insp. Kent's office at Scotland Yard'. The characters include 'Frederica Westinghouse . . A literary Agent', and the following six 'Members of the London Crime Circle': 'Peter Savernake', 'Julia Longfield', 'Consuelo Shelley', 'Spencer Ashbourne', 'Neville Stafford' and 'Colin Gowan'. Other characters are Savernake's 'char' 'Mrs. Regan', two men from Scotland Yard, newspaper reporter 'Pauline Harper' and 'reformed crook' '"Lefty" Simmons'. The play was published in 1954, a year after the foundation of the Crime Writers' Association by John Creasey.