Seferis, George (Miller, Henry)

George Seferis to Henry Miller: Two Letters from Greece

New Haven, CT & Athens, Greece: Pharos/Athens, 1990. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. "(Henry Miller) went to Greece at a time when his creative and personal life was at its lowest point, and when the realities of Nazism and the horrors of war refuted with finality the established values of high-culture Europe which he himself had already questioned. Greece- and certainly (George) Katsimbalis, (George) Seferis and their circle- awakened a lifesaving vision of self that annealed Miller's resolution for the future." (from preface by Matthew Jennett, editor) A very fascinating & significant collectible relating to the life & work of Proto-Beat-&-Beyond literary icon Henry Miller (1891-1980). Two letters written by George Seferis (1900-1971), one of Greece's foremost poets, to Miller during June & December of 1940, are reproduced here in their holographic originals with printed versions on opposite pages. The letters were written during a period when Greece was about to & did enter the Second World War, the first as Miller was about to leave Greece & the second after he had fled to safety. In the second letter, Seferis mentions George Katsimbalis (1899-1978), another noted Greek poet who impressed Miller as noted in editor Matthew Jennett's introduction quoted above. Miller's sojourn in Greece inspired him to write The Colossus of Maroussi, published in 1941, which Miller considered "his best and most important work" according to Jennett. As noted in colophon, this is one of 750 copies printed "...in commemoration of the entry of Greece into World War II on 28 October, 1940." Large-format chapbook-pamphlet with colors & stripes of the Greek flag on front & back covers. A superb & stirring production, & a very significant Miller-&-Co.-related rarity. In fine condition with only very mild rubbing & sparse, short scratches & creases to front, back covers & esp. stapled spine; mild wear & occasional bumps & creases to edges & esp. corners of same; a few small spots at edges of text block. Interior very fine except for small crease-bumps at (esp. upper) corners of page leaves; single small spots at upper corners of a few of same. Fine. [Item #3256]

Price: $20.00