Ginsberg, Allen

Riverside Interview (Uberlegungen Zur Poesie 2)

Hanover, Germany: Apartment Editions, 1988. First German Edition. Stringbound in Stiff Wrappers. Allen Ginsberg’s interviews and works of literary criticism—his writing on his and others’ poetry, the wealth of recordings in the form of classes he gave at the Naropa Institute—are invaluable documents for the poet, the critic, and the historian for understanding this once-in-a-century mind and social dynamo. “The Riverside Interview” was formed from three conversations Ginsberg had with Gavin Selerie in London, England. As such, “The Riverside Interview” was first published in London in 1979. A bit of promotional copy that went along with the publication of that cardinal English edition read: “Ginsberg’s presence in England that winter was controversial as ever. On the one hand, he had disappointed the straight press with his musical settings of Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence and Experience’; on the other, he had disappointed one of his earliest supporters, Eric Mottram, with the lack of consistent political theory displayed in his recent work and public behavior.” (As devoted Burroughsians we must note that Mottram was, of course, the author of the classic William S. Burroughs study, “The Algebra of Need,” among other works). Part of the interview took place in the flat of Barry Miles. Here we have the First German Edition of “The Riverside Interview,” published by Apartment Editions in 1988, with all text in the German Language. The distinguishing element of this release is the presence of a hand-stamping (using different color stamps each time) of what was supposed to be Ginsberg’s initials, but this and all other copies of this we’ve located read something more akin to “AH.” Not present in the Bill Morgan bibliography of Allen Ginsberg. Book in very fine condition with only slightest shelf-wear to top left-hand corner of front cover; top right-hand corner of back cover. Very Fine. [Item #4487]

Price: $120.00