First edition of The Marcel Marceau Alphabet Book, a theatrical depiction of the alphabet for children by the world's greatest mime.
Written by George Mendoza. Photographed by Milton H. Greene. Stated first edition, 1970. Doubleday & Company, Garden City, NY.
Marcel Marceau (1923 - 2007), a member of the French Resistance during WWII, first used pantomime to quiet the Jewish children he helped smuggle to Switzerland to escape the Nazis.
After the war, Marceau became "the greatest mime artist of the 20th century." He was a fascinating person and is especially remembered for his character Bip the clown.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/sep/24/guardianobituaries.france
In the Alphabet Book, Marceau mimes the letters of the alphabet.
"Marcel Marceau is a sea of faces...his body bends an alphabet of spaces..."
A is for awakening.
B is for butterfly.
C is for cage.
D is for dragon.
Learn more about the art and life of Marcel Marceau.
Youtube.com/watch?v=XEsfpRrfXf4
The book comes with a full-color brochure and program from Marceau's performance at the Ann Arbor, MI Summer Festival 87 and other ephemera left in the book. The original owner was active in Tucson's theater arts community and a founder of the Arizona Theater Company, and a professional mime who studied under Marceau.
Condition*: Hardback - Near Fine/Very Good. There is some fading at the top of the front cover board. The dust jacket has two ver small tears on the front, chipping at the head of the spine, a chip on the back, and a fold mark on the front flap. There's also a rough patch in the top right corner that's likely left-over adhesive from a label. Brochure - Near fine with only minor scuffing from shelf wear.
* Based on guidelines of the Independent Online Booksellers' Association.
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