[Item #4130] The Distant Present: Poems on On Reading by Andre Kertesz. Joe Napora, Andre Kertesz.
The Distant Present: Poems on On Reading by Andre Kertesz
The Distant Present: Poems on On Reading by Andre Kertesz
The Distant Present: Poems on On Reading by Andre Kertesz

The Distant Present: Poems on On Reading by Andre Kertesz

Ashland, KY: BullHead Books, 2017. First Edition. Sewn Wrappers. Signed by Joe Napora. "I discovered Andre Kertesz' photo collection On Reading one afternoon in a semi-truck full of remaindered Penguin books that were donated to the college where I worked. I opened the book and read the brief biography. This statement stood out: "His reception in America, where he moved in 1936, was different if not positively hostile. In New York City, editors told him, "Your pictures talk too much." As if it isn't amazing enough that a photograph can talk at all. And so a conversation. And a question: a poem printed on a page, can it also speak?" (Preface, unpaginated) A collection of poems by Joe Napora, the passionate & prolific American poet, editor, publisher & activist. Inspired by vintage images of readers in a variety of settings by the great Hungarian-American photographer Andre Kertesz (1894-1985, see our item No. 4010), Napora reproduces some of Kertesz's haunting photographs opposite his own poems, titled & themed by Kertesz's captions, places & dates. A beautiful chapbook production, in sewn binding & with front cover illustration based on one of the Kertesz photos, by Napora's own BullHead imprint with no copyright or colophon-limitation information as typical of his more recent publications. On the title page, just below & slightly overlapping with his printed name, Napora has hand-written his signature in bold black ink. A literary challenge that we think Napora succeeded well in meeting- the pictures & poems speak to each other, & the reader. A unique & rewarding Napora collectible, in very fine condition with only tiny bumps at esp. lower corners of covers & page leaves; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #4130]

Price: $35.00