Modern and Traditional Poetry and Literature from Alexander Rare Books

William Carlos Williams published his five-volume set Paterson over twelve years, from 1946-1958. One thousand copies were printed of each of the first four volumes, 3,000 of the fifth. Alexander describes this set as "a centerpiece for a collection of modern American poetry." $2,000.

No city is more associated with the radical cultural changes of the 1960s than San Francisco. Peace and love, psychedelic music, drugs, hippies, and anti-war demonstrations of the era are all entwined with the City by the Bay. It was also a place of revolutionary thought in literature and poetry. Item 10 is volumes 1-4 of The San Francisco Earthquake, published in 1967-1968. The quarterly publication includes works from O'Hara, Burroughs, Ferlinghetti, Ginsberg, and more. It also contains numerous illustrations and advertisements from the time. $100.

Here is an example of a type of poetry that not all of us understand, but those who do undoubtedly appreciate. The book is An Anthology of Concrete Poetry, edited by Emmett Williams, himself a concrete poet, in 1967. To better understand the term, I found an article online from Mary Ellen Solt in 1968, titled "Concrete Poetry: A World View." She says, "so many kinds of experimental poetry are being labeled 'concrete' that it is difficult to say what the word means." Hope this helps. I will trust that those who enjoy this style of poetry know what the word means, and will appreciate this anthology, which is inscribed by Williams. Item 154. $195.

You may contact Alexander Rare Books for their catalogue at 802-476-0838 or via email at alexanderbooks@charter.net.

Rare Book Monthly

Modern and Traditional Poetry and Literature from Alexander Rare Books

Rare Book Monthly

Archived Reviews

Modern and Traditional Poetry and Literature from Alexander Rare Books

Rare Book Monthly

Review Search

Archived Reviews