Arguelles, Ivan; Foley, Jack

Dead/ Requiem

ISBN: 1880766167
Berkeley, CA: Pantograph Press, 1998. First Edition. Softcover. Signed by Jack Foley to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the legendary poet & noted founder of City Lights Booksellers and Publishers. There are few, if any widely-known connections between Cornell University in Ithaca, NY — and this, even though several visionary non-Beat authors have taught there to great effect: have been received, warmly by talented students who are eager-to-contribute; by responsive readers, and responsive faculties. The American poet, Jack Foley (b. 1940) now, in my mind constitutes the lone exception: and Foley, like the other noted author-scholars of First San Francisco Renaissance — (think of Lew Welch, for example, who did his graduate work on Gertrude Stein) — was a legitimate practicing scholar. The real deal, — which not everybody was: and the earlier on we can establish a record of scholastic intentionality — an excitement in the mind of the growing & professional artist; a jolly inkling about where one’s life and work are going — then we can approach the task of analysis with greater reliability and ease. While Your Devoted VP-of-Operations at TMB has never read him, the “Beat” and “Surrealist” descriptives are useful in terms of generating mystique — and a brief Wikipedia scan will reveal much of interest to the Third Minder like us. In addition to these two, an introduction is provided by Neeli Cherkovski (1945-2024), the late, great Second San Francisco Renaissance author & especially significant presence in the emotional, psychic, literary & cultural endurance of the Second San Francisco Renaissance Scene. The combination of all three authors in the same set pages an intense, operatic, clarifying & definitive; the serious work of serious authors & litterateurs. Large-format softcover original in illustrated wrappers: the first (-&-likely-only) edition of this collaboration of Ivan Argüelles (1939-2009) and Jack Foley-based collaboration. From the library of the late, great Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919–2021), founder of City Lights Books and publisher of many Beat Generation writers. Ferlinghetti’s ownership signature, typically present in some way, shape, or form in/on all volumes we obtained from his library, is curiously absent here. Our guess is that the hoary old sage simply did not have the time or interest to read this work after receiving it. There are several possibilities, — I could, for example, discuss times of stress and fracture in the friendship between Ferlinghetti and Cherkovski, define, precisely the source of those stressors, and see if I could reasonably to map the absence of regard given this book (despite Jack Foley’s warm inscription) onto a spat referred to in LF or NC’s letters. That’s merely one way of going about it: if “anyone” is going to find out, it’ll happen in an archive, somewhere. An intrigue-generating association copy if We ever saw one, it’s inscription (& accompanying signature) are among the more dour or somber varieties that we’ve seen or offered in quite some time. Foley’s signature, in a burgundy-toned, dark red ink — (legitimately considered using the word “winedark” here, but pulled myself back from the Joycean brink, ha-ha) — reads: “For Lawrence ~ in hope of new life at this / dark time, / Jack Foley / 1/9/98.” In strong near fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear, light rubbing, some bumping to front, back covers & spine-edge; slightly more enunciated (since-flattened) bump-crease to bottom right-hand corner of front cover; lone spot/stain to text block at bottom right-hand corner of text block; faint, low-impact nicks & scuffing at same, though all generally mild; some age-toning to interior & exterior, otherwise clean. Near Fine. [Item #7353]

Price: $45.00