Bremser, Bonnie

For Love of Ray

ISBN: 90062618
London, England: London Magazine Editions, 1971. First UK Edition. Hardcover. Even the most ardent supporters of The Beat Generation, those who so rightfully exalt the expansive and inclusionary spirit behind the concept of "beatitude," its essentially-Transcendentalist imploration to self-cultivate with reckless abandon--to embrace the "mad flowers" of one's individuation with pride--will never be able to speak for one troubling aspect (among others) of Our Holy Dead: the problem of relationships and parenthood. One such story arises with Ray and Bonnie Bremser, and it--like the many other controversies--will tempt further fractionation among Beat scholars and Beat appreciators alike. As one too young to have ever known Bremser, this writer cannot speak as to the personal qualities of the man--as it is possible for almost anyone, save the basest of monsters, to ripen into virtue as age and experience bear their time-honored fruits. However, one may feel a little like Charles Bukowski did when dealing with William Wantling, whose wife turned to prostitution to "support" Wantling's heroin habit, when reckoning with the story of Bonnie Bremser--who also turned to prostitution after her husband Ray was reincarcerated for a truly blurry wrap sheet that it will take a real scholar to unravel. (Read Allen Ginsberg's introduction to "Poems of Madness" to get a glimpse into that). You will view this book in one of two ways. One: as a tragic story of a venemously-intelligent young woman who gets caught up with "the wrong man;" a troubled-yet-precocious Ray Bremser whom she marries (and mates with) prematurely; whose repetitive run-ins with law enforcement force her to a dangerous and sexually-objectified life of prostitution in Mexico to support their young child. Alternately, you might view it as Bonnie's valid attempt at self-definition, as a choice not to be criticized despite its desperate-times-call-for-desperate-measures realities; that Ray's objectionable abandonment of his family (resulting perhaps from his utter apathy as an addict) simply led Bonnie to search for a new man. She needed money to feed her kid and wanted a new man--perhaps prostitution killed two birds with one stone. At any rate, this work is laudably well-conceived and laudably executed--the Bremser story, of Ray and Bonnie, needs further attention by scholars--the Volcano awaits. Book in very fine condition, virtually as issued, with only smallest bump to top right-hand corner of front cover and same to top left-hand corner of back cover; also at back cover at bottom left near fine-edges is what seems to be a tiny scuff that ruffles the cloth covering the boards--almost invisible, but noted, as the microscopic specificity Third Mind Books prides ourselves in decrees we define. Dust-jacket in very fine condition as well, with only slight shelf-wear to fine-edges and single minute instance of spotting present at spine. Very Fine / Very fine. [Item #3939]

Price: $70.00