Wantling, William

7 On Style

ISBN: 0915016028
San Francisco, CA: Second Coming Press, 1975. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. "(William) Wantling uses words as bullets that crack open what he feels has got to be said. There is a terrible experience in much of his best work: War, jail, drugs, and no salvation...except Style: How you transform your terror into a poem." (from "Note to the Reader" by Walter Lowenfels, pg. 1) A chapbook of seven poems & prose-poems by William Wantling (1933-1974), the legendary & much (partly self-)mythologized American poet. Published the year after Wantling's death "...on May 2, 1974, at the age of 41. A victim of a heart attack induced by codeine and wine. He was one of the most powerful voices to appear on the literary scene in the 1960's." (from "A Last Farewell" by A.D. Winans, pg. 3). One of the poems, "Style 3, " incorporates a letter written to Wantling by Charles Bukowski, an acquaintance & another cult favorite (pg. 15). With introductory essays by respected radical journalist Lowenfels (1897-1976) & key San Francisco Renaissance(s) poet A.D. Winans, both quoted above. Striking, surreal illustration-portrait by Barry Cleaven on front cover; photograph with dates on back cover. A very rare collectible in the Wantling canon. In near-fine condition with moderate rubbing, browning, spotting & scratching to front, back covers & stapled spine; light wear & a few tiny bumps, creases to edges & corners of same; staples in process of rusting with very slight bleeding at interior; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine with bit of rusting noted above; light, faint creases & small areas of rubbing at upper blank margins of some page leaves; tiny bumps at edges & corners of some of same. Near Fine. [Item #3549]

Price: $50.00 save 20% $40.00