Mendelson, Edward (Auden, W.H.)

Early Auden with: Ephemera

ISBN: 0670287121
New York, NY, USA: Viking Press, 1981. First Edition. Hardcover. "This important new book casts a brilliant light on W.H. Auden's poems and plays, but it also does a great deal more. Mr. (Edward) Mendelson's account of Auden's work from the start of his career until his departure for America in 1939 is a richly detailed history of a major writer's artistic, intellectual, emotional, and political growth as he responded to the pressures and possibilities of the modern era. Early Auden also illustrates important and unfamiliar ways of thinking about literature and about the ethical and social implications of a poet's use of language and form." (from front flap) An intensive critical biography of the earlier life & work of W(ystan) H(ugh) Auden (1907-1973), the canonical British-American poet. Author Edward Mendelson (b. 1946), the esteemed American author & academician, is uniquely qualified to have written this study as Auden's literary executor with fullest access to his literary legacy. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $20 price & "0781" printed at front flap), first edition "First published in 1981 by The Viking Press" as stated at copyright page, first printing though not specified as such thereon. From the collection of Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), a renowned American author, film scholar, poet, editor & academician here at the University of Michigan. We found & have retained, between front paste-down & endpaper, a section of four pages (pgs. 57-64) removed from an unknown journal & held together in a paper clip, with the memoir-article "Encounters with Auden," a very evocative & informative piece by the noted American poet-professor Robert B. Shaw- in mostly very fine condition with only attendant irregular left edges/corners from removal & some closed tears, one small chip-tear therefrom. A most-rewarding collectible for the Auden devotee (like this writer) in its rarest contemporary form, with enriching ephemera & distinguished provenance. See also our other Auden volumes & contributions, including item No.s 6832, 6838, 6875, 6877, 7026. Book in very fine condition, appearing substantially mint inside & out except for one very small, mostly closed tear from upper left front endpaper edge with very slight loss of surface paper; much smaller of same at upper right edge of front paste-down. Dust jacket fine with light rubbing, faint scratching & a touch of browning to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same & flaps; mild fading to spine. Very Fine / Fine. [Item #7274]

Price: $40.00