Todd, Ruthven (Berryman, John)

Broadside: "John Berryman 1914-1972"

London, England, UK: Poem of the Month Club Ltd, 1972. First Printing. Signed and dated by Ruthven Todd. 11x15. Ruthven Todd (1914-1978) was a Scottish poet, artist, and novelist, best known as an editor of the works of William Blake (1757–1827). Todd, mired as he was in the literary and art scenes of London, Essex, and New York, made a litany of friends throughout the worlds of surrealism, poetry, literature and the avant-garde. Among these friends, the one who stands out as perhaps the closest and most notable was John Berryman (1914–1972). Berryman was an American poet and scholar. He was a major figure in American poetry in the second half of the 20th century and is considered a key figure in the "confessional" school of poetry. Berryman and Todd became fast friends in New York, and the two commiserated over homesickness, the malady of the poet, and women. Their friendship was measured in letters and empty bottles of bourbon, and Todd often cited Berryman as the greatest poet of the century. Offered today is the 1972 broadside, John Berryman 1914-1972, by Todd. The broadside serves as an emotionally raw and sentimental lament of the passing of Berryman, in the immediate wake of his suicide. Todd’s style remains casual and steeped in brevity, while also being mired in pathos and a genuine sense of loss. 11x15 Broadside. First edition though not stated as such. Signed and dated in a delicate calligraphic script by Todd in thin black ink beneath the poem. In very fine condition with virtually no wear aside from very minute wear to fine edges, otherwise substantially mint!
This item is too delicate to be rolled & must be shipped flat to assure no damage, therefore an extra handling fee of $2.50 will be required. Very Fine. [Item #7033]

Price: $100.00