Various (Stettner, Irving (Editor); Aguila, Pancho; Bowles, Paul; Miller, Henry; Mrabet, Mohammed; Trantino, Tommy et al.)

Stroker No. 34 (1986)

New York, NY: Stroker, 1986. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “I have not mentioned the real villain, the television set. This hypnotic form of idiocy really has the country by the balls. Our television, or the fare offered, is both the best and the worst. Anything for a buck, as the saying goes. And it is in front of these sets that our youth receives its real education. Over a hundred years ago, our greatest American writer Walt Whitman declared that we were well on our way to becoming a nation of lunatics. We are no longer becoming — we are there, loony as bed bugs, destructive as lice and vermin, knowing neither peace, repose, or contentment” (Henry Miller [1891-1980], qtd. on front flap interior). This number of the literary-art-cultural journal edited by NYC St. Marks Place underground denizen Irving Stettner (1922-2004) features (as does almost every issue in this series) a contribution by Henry Miller (1891-1980), the great American author & artist whose earlier works were an influence & inspiration to the Beat Generation (“Autobiographical Statements” & “2 Ink Drawings, 1961,” pp. 15-21). Also in this issue are contributions by the Second San Francisco Renaissance-affiliated poet, Pancho Aguila (“Last Poem”); a piece of fiction by Stroker’s founding editor, Irving Stettner (“Cousins from Poland”); a 11-page suite of stories and drawings from convicted murder, Tommy Trantino (b. 1938); & the usual complement of work (letters or references mostly) by, about, or regarding Mohammad Mrabet (b. 1936), the famed Moroccan artist, author & storyteller affiliated with Paul Bowles (his primary translator in the Beat/American-literary contexts concerned with, here). View photograph of contents page (attached to this listing) to browse the table of contents in full. Literary journal in stapled wrappers: the first-&-only printing of Issue No. 41 of Stettner's vibrant "Stroker" (Shifreen & Jackson, C705, p. 830). In near fine condition with minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light bumping & some low-impact exhibits of bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; moderate-to-enunciated age-toning to same, otherwise clean. Near Fine. [Item #7101]

Price: $50.00