Various (Weinberger, Eliot (Editor); Benda, Jan; Eshleman, Clayton; Exner, Milan; Lorca, Federico Garcia; Rothenberg, Jerome; Sato, Hiroaki; Watson, Burton et al.)

Montemora 4

New York, NY: The Montemora Foundation, Inc., 1978. First Printing. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Clayton Eshleman to James Perrizo. This early number of the literary journal "devoted to international poetry" edited & with contributions by Eliot Weinberger features the poem "Elegy on the Death of a Friend" by Milan Exner, translated from the Czech into English by Clayton Eshleman & Jan Benda. As written in "Notes on Contributors," Exner "...is a Czech poet, born in Northern Bohemia in 1950, who lives in Prague. He has written five books of poetry and a novel, none of which were considered acceptable by the state-controlled press. We believe this is his first publication anywhere in the world." (pg. 295) Eshleman, co-translator & liberator of Exner's first work saved from the yoke of the then-Communist regime of Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic); the acclaimed & prolific poet, translator & scholar whom we proudly count as our friend & mentor here in Michigan; has hand-written at the upper margin of the first page of the translated poem: "For Jim Perrizo: one of the/ (?) Exner poems/ Benda & I did./ (signed) Clayton Eshleman/ 1990." James Perrizo (1944-2006) was a devoted Beat-&-Beyond collector & scholar who knew Eshleman & collected his works with particular intensity. Also in this issue are letters by the great, martyred poet Federico Garcia Lorca, translated from Spanish into English by David Gershator; translated poems, scholarly notes & commentaries relating to the ancient Japanese Tanka poetic form by Hiroaki Sato & Burton Watson; an excerpt from then-poem--in-progress "Abulafia's Circles" by the Ethnopoetics inventor-master Jerome Rothenberg; & much more. With illustrations, a section of comment-reviews, etc. A very important, rare issue in this venerable scholarly series; & a most desirable Eshleman collectible with this (relatively for him) lengthy inscription, signature, association & provenance. In very fine condition with only light rubbing, scratching & occasional spotting to front, back covers & spine; lightest wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; light rubbing & sparse spotting to edges of text block esp. lower edge. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at upper corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3479]

Price: $30.00