Jackson, Jon A. (Carver, Raymond)

Ridin' With Ray and The Old Game

Santa Barbara, CA: Neville Books, 1995. Limited First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by Jon A. Jackson. "I'm glad to write about Ray, who was without a doubt the most career oriented writer I've known, but who was also a splendid pal. He was the ur-writer. He practically had no sense of himself outside of that identification. Chekhov was a doctor, others might think of themselves as teachers, or public figures, but Ray was more like Nabokov: without writing he had no reason to be. It's a good thing in these times. Let's have a few of these literary heroes." (from Foreword, pg. 8) A short memoir & story by Jon A(nthony) Jackson (b. 1938), an acclaimed Michigan-born author who was a friend & contemporary of Raymond Carver (1938-1988, b. Raymond Clevie Carver Jr.), the canonical American short story writer & poet considered by some critics to be among the ever-most important, & whose works are now enshrined in the Library of America series. Jackson relates his experiences with & impressions of his "splendid pal" Carver in "Ridin' With Ray," followed by the short story "The Old Game." With a foreword (quoted above) by Jackson; illustrated at title page & throughout by Barnaby Conrad (we believe the swashbuckling American artist & bullfighter, 1922-2013). Hardcover without dust jacket as issued, one of 300 copies hand-numbered & signed in bold black ink by Jackson at colophon (from a total edition of 326 copies). A beautiful hand-crafted production, this is copy No. 112/300, a most collectible Carver-related Jackson/Conrad rarity. In very fine condition with only tiny bumps, creases at upper outer cover corners; otherwise substantially mint inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #5691]

Price: $90.00