Peters, Robert

The Little Square Review Number 2: Fourteen Poems by Robert Peters

Santa Barbara, CA: The Little Square Review, 1967. First Edition. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Robert Peters to James Perrizo. "What I seek in my work is a confrontation with absurdity and nausea, and with the frequent moments of beauty, laughter, illusion, wit, and fulfillment that keep one sane. Each day I live more or less on its own, resisting it and welcoming it, despising it and loving it, anxious to get through it and hating to see it dissolve- and I see no need to correlate or merge these contrary responses." (from Peters' "A Note on Poetry," pg. 3) This second number of the diminutive literary journal is entirely devoted to poems by Robert Peters (1924-2014), the great American scholar, playwright, poet & critic. The second section, more than half the total, is entitled poems from Songs for a Son, Peters' first volume of poetry which was published later during the year of this issue (1967). The topic of these poems is the sudden, unexpected illness & death of his young son six years earlier. This tragic experience was the initial catalyst of Peters' poetry, to "keep one sane," as he coins it in his introduction, against the forces of despair. Peters was first & foremost a scholar of the Victorian era in literature, & this production followed by the full-fledged volume marks his phasing into a prolifically imaginative writer beyond academia. Also with bold illustration by Kate Barnard opposite the first page of poems; a thoughtful & informative note on Peters by editor John Ridland. Small square-format chapbook in blue wrappers with sewn binding. On the contents-copyright page, Peters has hand-inscribed & signed: "For Jim/ in Michigan(?)/ (signed) Robert Peters/ flourish-doodle." "Jim" is James Perrizo (1944-2006), a major Beat-&-Beyond collector & scholar who knew & conducted an extensive correspondence with Peters. An exquisite production; & a key Peters rarity that marks a transition in his career as a man of letters, enriched with this important inscription & provenance. In fine condition with only mild rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; very light wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; small area of light staining & spotting near lower left corner of front cover; dime-shaped & sized circle of residue from sticker removal(?) near upper right corner of front cover where original price (in cents & shillings) is printed. Interior very fine with only tiny bump-creases at upper corners of page leaves. Fine. [Item #3249]

Price: $40.00 save 20% $32.00