Lot 2050: SAROYAN, WILLIAM. 1908-1981. Autograph Manuscript Signed twice ("William Saroyan"), 8vo, 28 pp, Omaha &c.;, October 4, 1939, being a play entitled "The Ping-Pong Game,"

SAROYAN, WILLIAM. 1908-1981.
Autograph Manuscript Signed twice ("William Saroyan"), 8vo, 28 pp, Omaha &c., October 4, 1939, being a play entitled "The Ping-Pong Game," on letterhead of Los Angeles Limited and San Francisco Overland Limited railroads, first and final leaves toned and with some stains, else very good in cloth chemise and slipcase. Accompanied by a printed copy of the play.Provenance: Gene Fowler, Jr., with ALS from the celebrated Hollywood film editor describing how Saroyan presented the manuscript to him.Saroyan's short play depicts a young couple in the midst of a ping-pong game, testing their relationship with manufactured argument, bringing the play to a shocking climax. Saroyan analyzes the play in his introduction to the 1940 Samuel French printing: "the fundamentals of living make all people deeply the same. The style of their sameness is the thing that varies. All know love and hate and faith and doubt. The depth of their knowing in the thing that varies. All people are worthwhile. That is a thing no one can possibly get away from, least of all a writer."The accompanying letter from Gene Fowler describes a drunken night during second war were Fowler had teased Saroyan: "I had suggested he stick to writing for 'the Ladies Home Journal.' He was overlooking the fact that I was kidding, but he never kidded about his work." Saroyan later "gave me this mss. as proof of his writing greatness."