A Moon for the Misbegotten – A Play – Eugene O’Neill

A Moon for the Misbegotten – A Play

🔹 Author: Eugene O’Neill

🔹 Publisher: Jonathan Cape

🔹 Edition: First Edition, 1953

🔹 Binding: Hardcover

🔹 Pages: 155

🔹 Size: 5 × 0.4 × 8 inches

🔹 Language: English

Written by Eugene O’Neill, widely regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights, A Moon for the Misbegotten stands among the crowning achievements of twentieth-century dramatic literature. Completed near the end of O’Neill’s career, the play serves as both a moving independent drama and a companion piece to his earlier masterpiece, Long Day’s Journey into Night. Through its rich characterization and emotionally charged dialogue, O’Neill explores the complexities of human relationships with remarkable honesty and compassion.

The drama centers on the interactions between Josie Hogan, her father Phil Hogan, and James Tyrone Jr., a troubled landowner burdened by grief, guilt, and personal loss. Over the course of a single night, hidden emotions, painful memories, and long-held misunderstandings gradually surface, leading to moments of extraordinary vulnerability and emotional revelation. O’Neill masterfully portrays characters who struggle with their own imperfections while seeking understanding, dignity, and forgiveness.

One of the enduring strengths of A Moon for the Misbegotten is its exploration of universal human themes. Love, regret, loneliness, self-deception, and the desire for redemption are woven into a deeply personal narrative that transcends its historical setting. O’Neill’s poetic language and psychological realism create a work of lasting emotional power, making the play a favorite among actors, directors, scholars, and readers of serious literature.

Beyond its literary merit, the play occupies a significant place in the history of modern theatre. It reflects O’Neill’s mature dramatic style, characterized by richly developed characters, philosophical depth, and an unflinching examination of the human condition. Frequently studied in universities and performed on stages around the world, the work continues to influence generations of playwrights and theatre practitioners.

Published by Jonathan Cape as a First Edition in 1953, this hardcover edition contains 155 pages and measures 5 × 0.4 × 8 inches. Its first edition status, association with one of the twentieth century’s greatest playwrights, and enduring importance in American dramatic literature make it a highly desirable volume for collectors, scholars, and enthusiasts of classic theatre.

• Written by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O’Neill
• Published by Jonathan Cape
• First Edition, 1953
• Hardcover binding
• 155 pages
• Size: 5 × 0.4 × 8 inches
• Language: English
• Classic work of modern American drama
• Explores themes of love, guilt, forgiveness, and redemption
• Features richly developed characters and powerful dialogue
• Essential reading for theatre students, literary scholars, and drama enthusiasts
• A prized addition to collections of twentieth-century literature and theatre

🔹 Collector’s Note

This First Edition (1953) hardcover of A Moon for the Misbegotten, published by Jonathan Cape, is a highly collectible edition of one of Eugene O’Neill’s greatest dramatic works. As one of the playwright’s final masterpieces, the play holds an important place in the history of modern theatre and American literature. Its first edition status, literary significance, and enduring reputation make it a valuable acquisition for collectors of dramatic literature, first editions, Nobel Prize-winning authors, and classic twentieth-century theatre.