Various (Chambers, George; Finlay, Ian Hamilton; Lent, John; Nichol, B.P.; Ondaatje, Michael; Page, P.K.; Scobie, Stephen et al.)

White Pelican: A Quarterly Review of the Arts Vol. 1, No. 2 (Spring 1971)

Edmonton, CA: White Pelican, 1971. First Printing. Softcover. Offered here is an early 70s issue of the little-known and increasingly rare “White Pelican” review, a literary quarterly about which little-to-nothing is known besides for the fact of it being a Canadian publication (and from Edmonton, specifically). As for the issue at hand, The Spring 1971 issue boasts a lengthy feature of/on Ian Hamilton Finlay, the beloved Concrete Poet best known for the pioneering mimeo rag, “Poor Old Tired Horse.” The entire issue, in fact, is like something that came out of a “Concrete Poetry Appreciation Month” that doesn’t and will likely never exist. Not only is Hamilton Finlay present, another pioneering concrete poet — b.p. nichol, one of the so-called “four horsemen” who, like Hamilton Finlay, was legendarily published by d.a.levy (who Hamilton Finlay and nichol both found a kindred spirit) — also appears, & fully in the swing of cementing (pun-intended!) his legacy, at that. A whopping six editors are listed as constituting White Pelican’s editorial board, & some (but not all) double as contributors to this here issue (as the following list serves to intimate): Sheila Watson, Stephen Scobie, Douglas Barbour, John Orrell, Norman Yates, & Dorothy Livesay. The editorial team takes pains to further note that this issue represents the editorial taste of Barbour & Scobie, who together compiled the Spring ’71 issue, while still being the product of the editorial collective. We would be remiss to not draw attention to the early appearance of Michael Ondaatje, who would go on to write "The English Patient" among other highly-successful works. The table of contents, in full, reads as follows: (1) works “By Michael Ondaatje; (2) “A Conversation with Michael Ondaatje,” conducted by Editors, Barbour & Scobie and featuring such intriguing topics as a film on nichol Ondaatje was then in the process of making; (3) pgs. 16-38 feature work by the nichol, himself; (4) work by (5) Steve McCaffrey, (6) Scobie, (7) John Lent, and (8) George Chambers follows. The work concludes with the Hamilton Finlay suite, (9) “Summer Elephants: Ian Hamilton Finlay.” Cover Art by the curiously-named Norman Yates. In strong near fine condition with only moderate shelf-wear to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; a few exhibits of light bumping, a few enunciated bump-creasess at/along select areas of same; slightly more pronounced shelf-wear & attendant punctuated instances [2[ of mild, cm-length vertical creasing-chipping near topmost & bottommost fine edges of spine, else pristine. Near Fine. [Item #5351]

Price: $40.00