The House of Books opened in New York on October 10, 1930, under proprietors Louis Henry Cohn (1888-1953) and Marguerite Arnold Cohn (1887-1984). It specialized in 20th century British and American first editions and brought the Cohns into contact with many of the major literary figures of the day, including Tom Stoppard. This play was his first major success. It tells the tale of Hamlet from the point-of-view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare's play.