Wolf, Martin

Said the Anthropologist from Outerspace

Detroit, MI: New Voices Press, 1971. First Edition. Softcover. “There were four beats,/With the third accented, / Or so we sang it, / Riding piggyback through the cemetery. / Uncle Albert picked it out / We all shoveled the moist soil / I wandered off / To look at tombstones / And find someone who died on my birthday.”—Martin Wolf, "Wet Grass Dress for an Afternoon", Said the Anthropologist from Outerspace, pg 3. As it sometimes happens, we here at the venerable Third Mind Books come across an item or writer of whom virtually nothing is known. Martin Wolf is just such a writer. After hours upon hours of research, and many gallons of caffeine, this toiling curator was unfortunately roadblocked by the seeming lacuna surrounding Wolf. The only thing this curator can be certain of, in regards to Wolf, is that, seemingly, Wolf was a writer involved in the Detroit poetry scene and that Said the Anthropologist from Outerspace is the first, and presumably only work Wolf ever published. Offered today is the aforementioned 1971 collection of poetry, Said the Anthropologist from Outerspace. Wolf seems pretty clearly inspired by the likes of Charles Olson (1910-1970), Aime Cesaire (1913-2008), T.S. Elliot (1888-1965), and Langston Hughes (1901-1967). Wolf’s work is dark, introspective, grand in scale, effulgent, lamenting, and at points saccharine. From the collection of Thomas Fitzsimmons (1926-2017), noted American poet, academician & editor, which we have been honored to obtain from his son, Ian Fitzsimmons. Softcover. First edition though not explicated as such at copyright page, first printing though similarly not explicated. Book is in very fine condition with light wear to fine edges, minimal discoloration due to sun-toning, and very miniscule smudging to front and back cover. Very Fine. [Item #6890]

Price: $40.00