The Desperate Hours

New York: Random House, 1953. Joseph Hayes' original typed manuscript for his most famous novel, "The Desperate Hours," with numerous authorial typeovers and editorial corrections. Stamps from the James Brown Agency (author's agent), date stamp of Sept 15 1953 and hand notation "Random House New York" to the title page.

The book was published by Random House in 1954, and was so popular upon its release that the author rewrote it as both a play and a movie screenplay within a year of publication. Basis for the classic 1955 film noir directed by William Wyler and starring Humphrey Bogart and Arthur Kennedy, a story of home invasion by a group of ruthless prison escapees, that was in some ways the pinnacle of American urban paranoia in the 1950s. Housed in Hayes' original brown file folder, with his personal return label affixed (indicating a home address in Sarasota, Florida), marked in the author's hand: "ORIGINAL MANUSCIPT [sic] 'THE DESP. HRS' AS SUBMITTED TO RANDOM HOUSE."

Unbound pages, Very Good condition overall, with title page and last page of text in lesser condition due to bearing most of the wear, but complete with no missing leaves. In a custom quarter-leather clamshell box.

[Book #124202]