Williams, Jonathan

In the Azure Over the Squalor: Ransackings & Shorings: A Quote Book

ISBN: 0917788281
Frankfort, KY: Gnomon Press, 1985. Limited First Edition Thus. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Jonathan Williams to Thomas Rain Crowe. "There have been writers...to remind us of the play of the mind in the language and the sight of the imagination in full flower. I am an insatiable collector of such petalled wit, wisdom, absurdity, and insolence. It is to be found primarily in texts, but also in good conversation, in simply passing through a literate world." (from Preface, "A Note") A delightful, hilarious compilation of quotes by the eclectic, eccentric poet-publisher-essayist-photographer Jonathan Williams (1929-2008). With wise, witty, sometimes scurrilous epigrams & sayings by so many of the most well-known writers, artists, musicians & celebrities of all types that we could not begin to list them here. The kind of book that can't be put down once any page is glanced at. Just to offer one example is this quote of our favorite Maximus poet, the notoriously difficult Charles Olson (who Williams studied with at Black Mountain College): "There are four legs to stand on. The first, be romantic. The second, be passionate. The third, be imaginative. And the fourth, never be rushed." (pg. 24) from what we have seen this is the third edition, first edition thus, preceded by two hardcover, very limited editions published by Jordan Davies in 1983. This softcover original was published during 1985 in an edition of 1500 copies as stated on copyright page. On the shorter title page, Williams has hand-written, signed & dated the year after publication in bold black ink: for/ Tom/ from/ The Magpie/ Highlands/ 1986." "Tom" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the acclaimed North Carolinian 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). Williams was a fellow North Carolina-born poet who mostly lived in the Highlands locality of that state which he places in this inscription, & is where he died. We presume that his reference to himself as "The Magpie" is an in-joke-nickname-wink to Crowe. A truly unique & most enjoyable Williams collectible, with significant North Carolina poet-to-poet provenance. In very fine condition with only a bit of rubbing, occasional small spotting-scuffing & a few short, faint creases to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; light spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only small, faint creases & tiny bumps at upper corners of page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #3769]

Price: $40.00