Various (Peabody, Richard (Editor); Bukowski, Charles; Cunningham, Imogen; Lax, Robert; Merton, Thomas; Miller, Henry; Neruda, Pablo; Nin, Anais; Oates, Joyce Carol; Picasso, Pablo; Roethke, Theodore et al.)

D.C. Magazines: A Literary Retrospective Vol. 1

ISBN: 0960242457
Washington DC: Paycock Press, 1981. First Edition. Large-Format Softcover. “The first decent history I ever read on the local literary scene was Jack Foley’s “A Bank of Violets,” published in Aleph no. 1 in 1975. The piece was good at putting the 60s explosion of local magazines and literary presses into perspective, but hardly touched on what had gone before, save to trot out Walt Whitman, Charles Olson, Ezra Pound, and St. John Perse as writers who lived here for a time. Bill Walker’s Coffee ‘n Confusion Beat-era coffeehouse (which was written up in greater detail in Dick Dabney’s profile of Walker in the May 1981 Washingtonian) also got a brief mention. My interest in putting together this book grew from a desire as a D.C. native to know more about what had gone on before in the city’s literary history. Of course, it’s impossible to cover all the local literary activity in 150 pages, so it was decided to do one volume in a possible series of historical books focussing on the DC literary scene, the first volume of which would feature the magazines that were the most international in scope and longest running of the lot–Portfolio, Voyages, and Dryad. Not that it’s any easier to do justice to these magazines in a book this size; they each deserve an anthology of their own. But I hope to demonstrate in the space allotted, that the city of Washington has never deserved the bad press it has received as a “literary backwater.””--Richard Peabody, “Foreward,” pg 5. A literary perspective through the lens of three of Washington D.C.’s most important literary magazines–Portfolio, Voyages, and Dryad--D.C. Magazines: a Literary Retrospective is an attempt to categorize, and analyze the literary scene in and around D.C.. Edited by Richard Peabody, poet, author & literary editor, D.C. Magazines showcases some of the most iconic issues and contributions to the three D.C. literary staples including: “Portrait of Paul Verlaine” by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973); “The Staff of Life” by Henry Miller (1891-1980); “20 Tanks From Kasseldown” by Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), with points in Debritto (C116, pg 457); “From Children of the Albatross” by Anaïs Nin (1903-1977); “Two Love Sonnets” by Pablo Neruda (1904-1973); “How Another Child Came to be Born” by Joyce Carol Oates (b. 1938); and “The Unending Gift” by Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986) among many other contributions. Ultimately, D.C. Magazines is a topographical examination of the D.C. literary scene through its most iconic publications; a wonderful, rare, and peerless historical accounting of a literary scene. From the collection of Kevin Ring, editor-publisher of & contributor to Beat Scene magazine & other indispensable productions (many available here), & our good friend in the UK. Large format softcover. First edition as stated at copyright page, presumed first printing though not explicated as such thereon. In relatively very fine condition with minor wear to fine edges, slight smudging/wear at front and back covers, and light discoloration due to age at exterior covers and interior pages. Very Fine. [Item #8011]

Price: $30.00