Olson, Charles

Charles Olson Reading at Berkeley

San Francisco, CA: Coyote, 1966. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. "No! I want to talk. I mean, you want to listen to a poet? I mean, you know, like a poet, when he's alive, whether he talks or reads you his poems, it's the same thing. Dig that! (APPLAUSE) - And when he is- when he is made of three parts, his life, his mouth, his poem, then that's- Well gee, one doesn't like to claim things. But God, isn't it exciting? I mean at least I'm- I mean I can- I mean I feel like a kid." (pg. 14) Transcript of a reading given by Charles Olson (1910-1970), the Immortal, Gigantic (in body & brilliance) American Black Mountain School-&-(way)Beyond poet who is our favorite exemplar of deep-digging Maximus Obscurantism. At this reading which took place on the evening of July 23, 1965 at the Berkeley Poetry Conference held at the University of California Berkeley campus, Olson recited excerpts from "In Cold Hell In Thicket" & his Magnum Opus, "The Maximus Poems"; riffed on myriad ideas; & interacted with Beat-&-Beyond eminences including Robert Creeley, Allen Ginsberg & Lew Welch (as well as an anonymous, enthusiastic student audience). The event was recorded, transcribed by Zoe Brown & first published in this edition offered here. Large-format booklet in stapled wrappers, first edition, first printing (though neither stated as such at copyright page) with errata slip in red font between pages 58-59. George Butterick & Albert Glover's 1967 bibliography refers to the recording of the event (Section E No. 4(b), pg. 70) but not to this printed version. With outer & inner front cover, copyright page photographs of Olson in action at his reading by Jim Hatch. An indispensable Olson collectible in its rarest original form which captures his incantatory depth, effervescence & sparring with his great colleagues like no other document. See our many other Olson productions & contributions at our Search Department. In relatively quite near-fine condition with mild-to-moderate rubbing, scratching, light browning & occasional spotting to front, back covers & stapled spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at/near edges & corners of same; mild rubbing, browning to edges of text block. Interior fine with only mild browning to blank inner back cover & page leaves (the latter mostly at blank margins/edges); tiny bumps, faint creases at esp. upper corners of leaves. Near Fine. [Item #5496]

Price: $60.00 save 20% $48.00