Finch, Peter

Poems for Ghosts

ISBN: 1854110578
Bridgend, Wales: Seren Books/ Poetry Wales Press Ltd., 1991. First Edition. Softcover. Inscribed & signed by Peter Finch to Thomas Rain Crowe. "Ever wonder if there was another way of doing it? Poems for Ghosts takes up where (Peter Finch's) Selected Poems left off. A compendium of modernist plunder, this is no collection for lovers of the traditionally tame. Sound poems, found poems, straight poems, hooliganism restructured, protests at the ruination of heritage, passionate pleas for language. These are innovations, literate blasts, perfomances. Finch wittily re-arranges our perception of poetry: Kippers rub shoulders with Dutchmen, out at the edge America vanishes, the rain falls steadily on our sheep-filled hills. Who else could have suggested that the Welsh might have invented dada?" (from back cover) A collection of poems by Peter Finch, the acclaimed Welsh poet, rock music critic & all-around performer-polymath. A dynamic & dizzying variety of works including a section of collage-writings entitled "Soft Dada." All text in English. Softcover original in sewn binding, first edition. On the title page, Finch has hand-written, signed & dated not long after publication: "For Thomas/ not a ghost by any means/ (signed) Peter Finch July, 1993." "Thomas" is Thomas Rain Crowe, the noted American 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). Among Crowe's many interests & areas of expertise are the languages & cultures of Wales, Scotland & Ireland. A most rewarding & desirable Finch collectible, especially with this wittily relevant poet-to-poet inscription. In very fine condition with only mild rubbing, scratching & creasing to glossy front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; moderate spotting to upper & side edges of text block; much less to lower edge of same. Interior very fine with only very small bump-creases at lower corners of a few page leaves; Welsh bookseller's sticker affixed to blank inner front cover with mild browning & a few wrinkles. Very Fine. [Item #3919]

Price: $40.00