Wright, Dion

Tempus Fugitive: A Personal History of the American Counter-Culture of the 20th Century

No Place: Mindful Wordsmith, 2016. Second Edition. Softcover Original. “Dion Wright’s ‘Tempus Fugitive’ is one of the best books I’ve read concerning the Psychedelic Hippy scene from Millbrook to Woodstock to San Miguel to Laguna Beach to San Francisco and all stops in between. A Le Corbusier of metal and philosophy, his narrative is about real characters, hilarious and insightful. / … / I knew Dion briefly in the early 60s in San Francisco when his metal sculptures and paintings were the talk of the town. / … / Kerouac stole his girlfriend but didn’t steal his writing style, which, in my opinion, far exceeds that of Kerouac in terms of storytelling. / … / He is one of the true artists coming out of that era…I think [“Tempus Fugitive’] is a really important historical book for those who really want to know what happened during those years…” (Legendary Literary Outlaw Charles Plymell, from Introduction). “Tempus Fugitive” is the rip-roaring, sui generis memoir by Dion Wright, described by its author as “an historical memoir with emphasis on Art, Psychology, Philosophy, and how the pursuit of expanded consciousness via Chemistry (relative to these subjects and others) had many and often mortal unforeseen consequences. All of this highfalutin intent is delivered in narrative through real stories about real people” (from Back Cover). While I won’t go as far as Plymell in proclaiming Wright “a better storyteller than Kerouac,” I share his enthusiasm for Wright’s bemused prose, and his pronouncedly original mind. Dedicated to “The Spirit, the Mind, and the Memory of / Aldous Huxley / and all other / Courageous Pioneers / everywhere,” it is simply refulgent with the sort of sharp-eyed reportage possible only to those that were “there.” Evidently, the timeworn adage that “If you can remember the 60s, you weren’t there” does not apply in this most notable of cases—the entire book refutes the musty supposition, I’d say. This particular copy is additionally signed by the great sculptor-artist-raconteur on the dedication page—his signature, in thick, silver, Sharpie-pen ink, reads: “Dion Wright.” If you think you know most all there is to know about California in the 60s or the Hippie Counterculture, think again; you’ve never met Dion Wright. Softcover original; the Second Edition of 2016, published by Wright’s very own “Mindful Wordsmith” press. Book in very fine condition, virtually as new with only slightest shelf-wear to fine edges & corners. Very Fine. [Item #5008]

Price: $35.00