Balakian, Peter

June-tree: New and Selected Poems [1974-2000]

New York, NY: Perennial, 2004. First Perennial Edition. Softcover. Inscribed by Peter Balakian. Writer Peter Balakian (born June 13, 1951- ) may seem familiar to you as he is a prolific contributor of essays and op-eds to The Washington Post, The Guardian, Art In America, Poetry, & New York Times Magazine, among others, with similar themes to his poetry and other published writing. Balakian blends personal and historical stories to exude a spectrum of emotions felt through generations of trauma and suffering. His own grandparents fled the Armenian genocide, and his personal connection with the plight of Armenians and Armenian Americans heavily influences his writing. This, his fifth collection of poetry, can be compared to a “Greatest Hits” album with never-before-heard bonus tracks. June-tree includes the highlights from his previous collections Father Fisheye (1979), Sad Days of Light (1983), Reply From Wilderness Island (1988), Dyer's Thistle (1996), as well as thirteen new poems. Three more poetry collections have been published since June-tree in 2004, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Ozone Journal (2015). He has also written several books of prose with historical and cultural commentary in the form of essays and memoirs. He received the Movses Khorenatsi Medal from Armenia in 2005 for a significant contribution to the advancement of Armenian culture and history after publishing The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response (2003); also the Presidential Award from Armenia in 2015 for his contribution to the documentary “Who killed the Armenians?” Currently, Balakian is an English and a Humanities professor teaching creative writing and genocide studies at Colgate University. [ISBN: 978-0-06-0556174]. Trade-Format Softcover: "First Perennial Edition Published 2004" as stated on copyright page, preceded by a hardcover edition in 2001, as indicated thereon , First Printing, as indicated by number sequence thereon. Inscribed by Peter Balakian on the title page in fine black ink which, if I can interpret the scribbles correctly, reads: “To Elise w Best wishes Peter Balakian October 29 2004” (see photos). Book is in Very Good condition with mild rubbing and shelf-wear to the fine edges of front, back covers and spine, and nearly-invisible “phantom scuffs” to same; pages clean and unmarked. Very Good. [Item #5480]

Price: $20.00