Genet, Jean; Ginsberg, Allen

May Day Speech

San Francisco, CA: City Lights Books, 1970. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. The text of a speech delivered by French avant-garde playwright, novelist & activist Jean Genet (1910-1986) on May Day (May 1), 1970, at Yale University, on behalf of the Black Panther Party & its then-jailed founder Bobby Seale. Genet had participated with William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg & others in the protests at Chicago during the Democratic National Convention two years earlier. Featuring a lengthy introduction by Ginsberg, in his unique prose-poetic Jeremiad style. Published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Books, the imprint that unleashed Ginsberg's Howl & put the Beat Generation on the world map. Chapbook-style booklet in stapled wrappers. Per Cook's CLB bibliography, this production was published during September 1970 & never reprinted according to publisher's records (No. 86, pgs. 91-92). See also Morgan, B73, pg. 141. An exemplary Genet/ Ginsberg collectible from a turbulent, "Radical Chic" era when writers placed themselves at the front lines of the countercultural revolution. In relatively very fine condition with only slight rubbing, browning & scratching to front, esp. back covers & stapled spine; light wear & some tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; one very thin, faint horizontal scratch-crease across mid-back cover, echoing through last few page leaves (undoubtedly a minor production flaw); staples in process of rusting with miniscule exterior & interior bleeding; mild rubbing & spotting to edges of text block, esp. upper edge. Interior very fine with only bit of rust-bleeding & faint scratch-creases noted above; tiny bumps at corners of some page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #4398]

Price: $35.00