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1973 Pentimento: A Book of Portraits, by Lillian Hellman
Pentimento: A Book of Portraits is a collection of memoirs and personal essays that offer a glimpse into the author’s life and the people she encountered throughout her career. The title, Pentimento, refers to the art technique of painting over a previous layer to reveal a hidden image, which is used as a metaphor for the process of remembering and reflecting on one’s past.
The book includes portraits of several notable figures, including Hellman’s former lover, writer Dashiell Hammett, and her friend, the painter Arthur Gold. Hellman also writes about her experiences during the McCarthy era, when she was blacklisted for her political beliefs. Pentimento received critical acclaim for its insightful and candid portrayal of the author’s life and the people who influenced her.
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1956: The Firstborn, a play by Christopher Fry, Second Edition
The Firstborn is a play in three acts written by Christopher Fry and published by Oxford University Press. The second edition, which is a small blue cloth hardcover volume with gilt lettering on the spine, was published in the same year. The play tells the story of the biblical character Moses and his struggles with his family, his people, and his faith. The play explores themes of leadership, sacrifice, and redemption, and is known for its poetic language and philosophical depth.