Kusumagraj

The Saint in the Cellar (Two Editions)

ISBN: 188319718X
Cullowhee, NC; Mumbai, India: New Native Press; Akshar Prakashan, 2003; 2005. First Edition; First Edition Thus. Softcovers. First American Edition signed by publisher Thomas Rain Crowe. "From out of India and the Marath language, and through the eyes and ears of translator S.A. Virkar, comes the poetry of one of Asia's finest and most celebrated 20th century writers- to America's shores and the rest of the English-speaking world. Kusumagraj is a recipient of his country's most prestigious literary prize, The Jnanpith Award, for outstanding contribution to Indian literature, and his selected poems are a look into a literary career spanning fifty years as the political and cultural conscience of the Maharashtra peoples and their Marathi language. In poems of unusual imagination embodied in a style and language that mirrors the dignity and grace of classical Sanskrit, we are introduced to an artist of inspiring idealism that passionately embraces notions of social justice and racial equality. Just as Kusumagraj was and remains an inspiration in the East, so, too, are we, here in the West, now blessed with a sample from the poetry of one of the great writers of our time." (back cover) A posthumous collection of poems by Kusumagra (1912-1999, born Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar), the venerable award-winning Indian poet. The poems are translated from the original Marathi (the official language of the Indian state of Maharashtra as noted in one of the two forewords) into English by V.A. Virkar. We offer two editions of this volume: (1) First American edition, trade-format softcover original, first edition, first printing as stated on copyright page & as indicated by number sequence thereon. A production of New Native Press, the imprint of Thomas Rain Crowe, the noted 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). On the copyright page, below a printed reference to NNP & himself, Crowe has hand-written his signature in bold blue ink. (2) First Indian edition (first edition thus), a reprint by permission of NNP with different, color graphics & photograph of Kusumagra on covers & spine, otherwise a near-exact facsimile of (1), published two years later. A selection of key works by this great poet for English/ Western readers, in its two original, collectible versions. Both in very fine condition with only the slightest rubbing to front, back covers & spines; a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same. Interiors very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #4032]

Price: $50.00 save 20% $40.00