Alioto, Angela

Straight to the Heart: Political Cantos

San Francisco, CA: Russian Hill Press, 1997. First Edition. Hardcover. Presentation copy inscribed, signed, and dated by Angela Alioto to Lawrence Ferlinghetti “Politics was a means, not an end, for her… What is admirable about Angela’s vision is that it’s one that looks to the future. If Angela talks about the past, it is to illustrate what we can learn for the future. From the young woman with a baby balanced on her hip, reluctantly politicking, Angela has emerged as a strong, compassionate leader. No one else could have written this book, as Angela has an obligation– an obligation to get her message out there, to take aim at the heart of what has to be accomplished” (Francis Ford Coppola, Foreword, pg.s xiii-xiv) Angela Alioto is a San Francisco native political writer and attorney, born in 1949 to the former Mayor Joseph L. Alioto. She attended Lone Mountain College and eventually graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law as well. In 1988, she was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where she began an impressive career in local politics. She focused on advocacy for public health and anti-discrimination policies, among other things. Alioto published this volume in 1997, shortly after she left the government position she held for 10 years. She writes of her own experiences, sparing no names. This is an honest work and the way she ties in the references to Dante’s Inferno makes it read unlike other political memoirs. She also throws in memories of some of the authors we feature here at TMB so keep your eyes peeled for some big names! This copy comes to you from the collection of the late, great Lawrence Ferlinghetti, (1919-2021) Canonical poet & founder of City Lights Books, publisher of many Beat Generation writers. On the epigraph page, Alioto has handwritten, signed, and dated a note to Ferlinghetti himself. In black in: “To Lawrence, / The greatest / poet of them / all. / Love, / Angela / 4/18/97” over the quote: “Abandon all hope, you who enter: Inferno Canto III.” First edition hardcover in unclipped dust jacket, first edition, first printing as indicated by number sequence at copyright page. Book in very fine condition, with only slight spotting to page block. Dust jacket in fine - to - very fine condition with only light wear to the edges and corners, spine, and flap of the dust jacket, peeling of ISBN sticker, affixed to a blank area of the corner of back cover. Very Fine / Fine-Very Fine. [Item #7361]

Price: $50.00