Hugo, Richard

The Right Madness on Skye: Poems

ISBN: 0393009823
New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company Inc., 1980. First Softcover Edition. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Richard Hugo to Thomas Rain Crowe. "In September of 1977 Richard Hugo and his family went to live for several months on the Isle of Skye, off the coast of Scotland. One of the results of that experience is this new and impressive volume of poems." (from back cover) Richard Hugo (1923-1982) was born & raised in Seattle, served in WWII & ultimately settled in Montana. Hugo studied under the great American poet Theodore Roethke, & his own style is somewhat influenced by that most distinguished mentor, but with his own unique stamp. Hugo's life had sad parallels with Roethke's, having been bedeviled by depression & alcoholism, & cut short at a relatively young age. Nevertheless, his work here & in his other collections expresses his love of nature & life. This is the first trade-format softcover edition published simultaneously with the first hardcover edition, first printing as indicated by number sequence. On short title page, Hugo has hand-written & signed: "For Tom Crowe/ and the right/ madness on his/ farm(?)./ (signed) Richard Hugo." The recipient, Thomas Rain Crowe, is an acclaimed poet & publisher who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s (see our book, Starting From San Francisco, item No. 3071, Deluxe Edition No. 3075), our good friend & mentor who has long resided in rural North Carolina, from whose library we obtained this. A prime Hugo collectible, especially with this very rare hand-inscription & signature, & with poet-to-poet association & provenance. In near-fine condition with mild rubbing, scratching & creasing to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & a few small bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; moderate spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine with only short, faint creases to upper corners of some page leaves; small folded creases to bottom corners of a few of same. Near Fine. [Item #3539]

Price: $60.00 save 20% $48.00