Various (Rosset, Barney (Editor); Behan, Brendan; Bowles, Paul; Burroughs, William S.; Creeley, Robert; Kemp, Lysander; McClure, Michael; Paz, Octavio; Wareing, William; Williams, Martin; Yacoubi, Ahmed et al.)

Evergreen Review Vol. 5 No. 20 (September - October 1961)

New York, NY: Evergreen Review, Inc., 1961. First Printing. Softcover. This vintage number of the legendary literary journal chiefly edited by Barney Rosset features "The Night Before Thinking," a tale by Moroccan storyteller Ahmed Yacoubi recorded & transcribed in English & with a short introduction by Paul Bowles, the great expatriate American author & composer. In that introduction, Bowles notes that his friend & colleague William S. Burroughs was enthusiastic about this piece & agreed to write a commentary on it. Following the story is WSB's "Comments on The NIght Before Thinking," a classic, inspired & much-quoted work of hallucinatory, impressionistic cut-up criticism ("Photo falling- Word falling- Break Through in Grey Room- Towers open fire-...," pg. 31). Maynard & Miles, C30, pg. 116; Shoaf, Section III, No. 23, pg. 127; Schottlaender, C23, pg. 31. Also in this issue are contributions of poetry, prose-poetry & prose by Robert Creeley, Michael McClure, Octavio Paz (translated into English by Lysander Kemp) & others; "The Big House: A Play for Radio" by Brendan Behan & more. With a "Views and Reviews" section including a delightful highbrow take on contemporary television cartoon shows by Martin Williams, notes on contributors & contemporary ads (including for Henry Miller to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his works being published by New Directions). With front cover artwork by William Waring- a rather sarcastic depiction of then-President John F. Kennedy with which this writer for one is not amused. Perhaps with unknowing prescience it hints at the avalanche of cynicism & mistrust that would follow in the wake of JFK's traumatic assasination two years later. In any case, this is a particularly important & rewarding issue in this most collectible series, especially with the exemplary, luminous contribution of WSB, Founding Father of the Beat Generation & one of the foremost, influential literary & cultural figures of them all. Trade-format softcover in sewn binding, complete with subscription promotion including sheet of removable cards. In fine condition with only mild rubbing, scratching & slight browning to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & a few tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; several tiny spots at blank areas of back cover; light rubbing, browning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at mostly upper corners of a few page leaves. Fine. [Item #4371]

Price: $40.00 save 15% $34.00