Various (Rosset, Barney (Editor); Beiderbecke, Bix; Blackburn, Paul; Doisneau, Robert; Frumkin, Gene; Jones, LeRoi; O'Hara, Frank; Rivers, Larry; Proust, Marcel; Seaver, Richard; Trocchi, Alexander; Williams, Martin et al.)

Evergreen Review Vol. 5 No. 19 (July - August 1961)

New York, NY: Evergreen Review, Inc., 1961. First Printing. Softcover. This eclectic vintage number of the legendary literary journal chiefly edited by Barney Rosset features a theretofore-unpublished text fragment, "The Sources of the Loir at Illiers," by the great French author Marcel Proust, translated by Rosset's distinguished colleague (& an associate editor of ER) Richard Seaver. As stated in a footnote, this is "An interesting fragment in itself, it is also revealing as an indication of the author's ultra sensitivity, his preciosity, and the growing complexity of his literary style." Following the text is a portfolio of images by the noted photographer Robert Doisneau depicting exterior & interior scenes of the charming French village that is the subject of Proust's piece. Also in this issue are contributions of poetry by Paul Blackburn, LeRoi Jones (later Amiri Baraka), Gene Frumkin & others; & prose including a satirical (?) collaborative essay, "How To Proceed in the Arts: A Detailed Study of the Creative Act" by artist Larry Rivers & New York School canonical poet Frank O'Hara; & an excerpt from Cain's Book, Vol. 2 by Beat-&-Beyond cult favorite Alexander Trocchi. The subtitle-prologue of the latter is worth quoting in its entirety: "Thoughts on Bill Burroughs, Hashish, Hitler, As a Prolegomenon to a New Beginning of Unspeakable Memories, with a Spontaneous Discourse on Oblomov and the Long Sanity of Proust in a Padded Room." With a "Views and Reviews" section including an essay on the brilliant, tragic early Jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke by Martin Williams; notes on contributors (including the tongue-in-cheek statement that Proust "...is hard at work on a new novel with the working title Remembrance of Things Past"); contemporary ads including for a critical study of Nathaniel West & the LPs of Horace Silver on Blue Note Records. Trade-format softcover in sewn binding, complete with subscription promotion including sheet of removable cards. A most varied & rewarding issue in this eminently collectible series. In fine condition with only mild rubbing & faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; very light wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; light rubbing & sparse spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps, creases at corners of some page leaves. Fine. [Item #4342]

Price: $30.00 save 20% $24.00