Peters, Robert

Breughel's Pig

ISBN: 0898071399
Los Angeles, CA: Illuminati, 1989. First Edition. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Robert Peters to James Perrizo. "The long-awaited gathering in book form of Robert Peters' more experimental work, including the entire text of Byron Exhumed, a precursor of his later monologue and persona pieces. Breughel's Pig overflows with Peters' overriding concern: to make our victimization's- our life in the raw- more endurable, and to find a way of transmuting one's rage at an outrageous universe into an unsentimental murmur of song." (from back cover) A collection of many very short, intensely evocative & visceral poems by Robert Peters (1924-2014), the great American poet, performer, playwright, critic & educator. Divided into three sections, the preamble for the first of which, also on front & back covers, is exemplary of the flavor & impact of this collection: "The world runs/ with a knife struck through its hide,/ a wedge sliced from its back." High, narrow-format softcover original first edition. On the title page, Peters has hand-inscribed & signed: "For a dear friend &/ brother, Jim Perrizo/ (underline)/ (signed) Bob Peters/ 20 Feb. 90 (flourish-doodle)/ flourish-doodle." James Perrizo (1944-2006) was an important Beat-&-Beyond collector & scholar who once served as the assistant to Edie Parker, Jack Kerouac's first wife. As this affectionate inscription demonstrates, Peters & Perrizo were indeed close friends. We also possess, not for sale, correspondence between them which delves into their intellectual & emotional kinship. A key collectible in the prolific Peters canon, greatly enriched by this inscription, dated very close to publication, & provenance. We would have deemed this as being in very fine, almost mint condition but for one point: The two page leaves comprising pages 69-72 are detached from the spine, although they are still attached to each other. We believe this is due to the quality of the glue applied to this perfect-bound book, as well as the exceptionally long & narrow spine, the outer part of which has no creasing. Other than very slight rubbing & scratching mostly at & near edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; loose leaves noted above; this item is all but mint inside & out. Near Fine. [Item #3235]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00