Various (Lewis, Wyndham (Editor); Ford, Maddox Ford; Gaudier-Brzeska, Henri; Pound, Ezra; Eliot, T.S. et al.)

Blast 2 (War Number, July 1915 Facsimile Edition)

Santa Rosa, CA: Black Sparrow Press, 1981. First Trade Edition Thus. “NOTE – The sculptor writes from the French trenches, having been in the firing line since early in the war. In September he was one of a patrolling party of twelve, seven of his companions fell in the fight over a roadway. In November he was nominated for sergeancy and has been since slightly wounded, but expects to return to the trenches. He has been constantly employed in scouting and patrolling and in the construction of wire entanglements in close contact with the Boches. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR TWO MONTHS and I can now gauge the intensity of Life. HUMAN MASSES team and move, are destroyed and crop up again. HORSES are worn out in three weeks, die by the roadside. DOGS wander, are destroyed, and others come along. WITH ALL THE DESTRUCTION that works around us NOTHING IS CHANGED, EVEN SUPERFICIALLY. LIFE IS THE SAME STRENGTH, THE MOVING AGENT THAT PERMITS THE SMALL INDIVIDUAL TO ASSERT HIMSELF.” (Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, pg. 33) A year after the first volume of Blast [see item 8277] was published by Wyndham Lewis (1882 – 1957), co-founder of the Vorticist artistic movement, in 1914, war consumed Europe and infected all parts of culture and media at the time. Presented here is the Black Sparrow Press edition of Blast 2, the War Number, in which Lewis and his fellow Vorticist artists attempt to continue their takedown of art movements of the time and promote their views on expression. In this number, the intersection of empire, art, and war are prominent, and how could it not be: Many of those involved in the movement were now fighting on the Western Front. Here you find Modernists trying to make sense of life, and art, within the horrors of war. The sentiment is perhaps best exemplified by the previously quoted piece by Gaudier-Brzeska, the French sculptor and painter. “My views on sculpture remain absolutely the same,” he informs the reader while vividly describing the terror he’s seen. “It is the vortex of will, of decision, that begins.” He presents a courageous face to stand for art and meaning while surrounded by man’s destruction. But an editorial note follows Gaudier-Grzeska’s piece: “After months of fighting and two promotions for gallantry Henri Gaudier-Brzeska was killed in a charge at Neuville St. Vaast, on June 5, 1915.” Contributors included, among others: Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, and Ford Madox Ford (Hueffer). From the collection of Albert Glover (b. 1942), the acclaimed American poet, author, bibliographer, editor & publisher whom we're honored to be acquainted with, & who is the foremost living authority on Charles Olson [1910-1970], the canonical American poet and our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. Glover studied with & was anointed by the Maximus Master himself, & has outstandingly served as his bibliographer & editor (see for example our item No. 8126). Large-format softcover. First Trade-format Softcover Edition thus, First Printing. In Near-Fine condition with mild rubbing and scratching to front, back covers & spine; moderate creasing to corners and edges of same; moderate spotting to textblock; an Airlift Book Company price sticker remains affixed to the bottom of back cover. Interior Fine with light creasing to some leaves and age-toning throughout. Near Fine. [Item #8275]

Price: $100.00