SUITE IN THREE KEYS: A Song at Twilight; Shadows of The Evening; Come Into The Garden Maud.

London: William Heinemann Ltd. 1966. First edition, first printing. First edition, first printing. The dedication copy. Original grey cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by Brian Russell. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. A little pushed to spine tips. In the bright dustwrapper, rubbed to corners, folds and spine tips. Not price-clipped (35s net to the front flap). A notable association copy of Coward's late trilogy. Inscribed by the author in blue ink to the dedication page. Beneath the printed dedication 'For Binkie', Coward has added "With, love as always / Noël". The dedicatee (of the book and of this particular copy) was theatre impresario, Hugh "Binkie" Beaumont (1908-1973), one of the most important figures in the London theatre world during the twentieth century. He worked with just about every great dramatist and actor during in his long career, perhaps most closely of all with Noël Coward. They had met in 1924, and following Coward's split with C. B. Cochran in the late 1930s, Beaumont effectively became the author's manager, producer, and advisor for the remainder of both men's lives (both died in 1973). 'Suite in Three Keys' comprises three plays, each with a cast of four characters, and all set in the same suite of a Swiss hotel. Coward thought of the plays as a kind of swan song, and the opening run at the Queen's Theatre, beginning in April 1966, were to be his final appearances on stage. [Philip Hoare, 'Noël Coward: A Biography' (1995); Stephen Cole, 'Noël Coward: A Bio-Bibliography' (1993)]. (Cole B-107). Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.