Blue, Janice

Will Have Been

Berkeley, CA: Beatitude Press, 2008. First Edition. Softcover. POe "She was born January 1, 1942, and, from the obituary, as Kentucky blood. This origin might explain her frontier-like violence in North Beach in 1997, shooting a brute in his apartment who had beaten his wife repeatedly in front of her and another witness. The power of her passion can be traced back to the laws of Talon, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, which was still family vengeance law in late medieval England, before the emigrant migrations in waves West to the Mississippi. Her maiden name was Adams, an old English name. She lived the life of a poet."( William Ray, Anderson Valley Advertiser, 2018) One of the few female poets from the Baby Beat Generation, Janice Blue, (b. Janice Adams Duff, 1942-2017) led a fascinating life. Born in Depression-Era Western Kentucky, she emigrated to Northern California in the 1960s. In California she met and was mentored by the likes of Beatitude magazine founder Bob Kaufman, and original Beat poet Jack Micheline. In 1996, Janice was involved in the murder of her acquaintance, William Dyble. She was later convicted and sentenced to prison for this crime, resulting in this book of poetry written while serving her sentence. Her poetry has been described as quirky, original, and a fantastic play of language, with Thomas Rain Crowe saying "She was her own person, a self-starter, and her own teacher." (Starting From San Francisco, 2018). From the archive of Thomas Rain Crowe (b. 1949), the acclaimed American poet who was at the center of the Baby Beat Generation/ Second San Francisco Renaissance during the 1970s. The TRC archive was acquired, assembled & curated by Third Mind Books as a single item (see our item No. 1010), & its vast number of individual pieces are now being offered incrementally throughout this new year of 2025. The TRC archive collectively represents the entire legacy of the BBG/SSFR, & its critical collaborations-mentorships by the key figures of the original Beat Generation/ San Francisco Renaissance. See also Starting From San Francisco (item No. 3071), published by TMB, to obtain a thorough understanding of this important literary phenomenon from TRC himself. There are several references to Blue in SFSF. Trade format softcover original, First Edition, First Printing though not explicated as such. Inscribed and signed to Thomas Rain Crowe at copyright page "To Tom Rain Crowe / Love you, / brother / Thomas, / (signed) Janice Blue." An essential and rewarding collectible in its singularly rarest contemporary form, enriched by her inscription and signature and with very distinguished association and provenance. Book is in Fine condition with only light rubbing, faint scratching to front, back cover and spine; Light wear and some tiny bumps, creases at/from edges and corners of same; A touch of rubbing and edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps and small, faint creases at mostly upper corners of some page leaves. Fine. [Item #7410]

Price: $40.00