Alcalay, Ammiel; Olson, Charles; Glover, Albert et al.

A Little History

ISBN: 9780976014287
Brooklyn, NY: UpSet Press, 2013. First Edition, First Printing. "The war that matters is the war against the imagination all other wars are subsumed in it." (Diana di Prima, pg. 221). Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the war in Iraq, and 9/11, A Little History explores the deep politics of memory and imagination while proposing a new paradigm for American Studies. With a preface by editor, publisher & civic activist Fred Dewey (1957-2021), poet, novelist, translator, critic, and scholar Ammiel Alcalay's (b. 1956) book places the work of major Beat Generation and literary figures like Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), Charles Olson (1910-1970), Anne Waldman (b. 1945), Edward Dorn 1929-1999), Diane di Prima (1934-2020), John Sinclair (1941-2024), and even our friends Robin Eichele (b. 1941) and Albert Glover (b. 1942) in the realm of resistance and global decolonization to assert the power of poetry as a unique form of knowledge. All interspersed with Alcalay's personal reflections on the institutionalized production of knowledge, at once investigating the historical relationship between poetry and resistance and enacting the politics of memory and imagination. With notes, list of works consulted, and index. We have found and retained a "Glimmer Train Stories" bookmark at pages 80-81, where "Discussion from the Cornell Forum" begins. From the collection of the aforementioned Albert Glover, the great American scholar, bibliographer, author & publisher who is the foremost living authority on literary giant Charles Olson (our favorite Maximus Obscurantist), with whom we're honored to be acquainted. Trade-Format Softcover Original in Sewn binding: First edition, first printing though neither explicated as such at copyright page. A stirring, inspiring & most-essential Alcalay/Beat Generation/Charles Olson collectible in its rarest contemporary form, with distinguished, highly relevant association & provenance. In relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild rubbing, bumping of corners & scratching mostly to fine edges of front, back covers & spine; mild age-toning to text block; mild spot-staining mostly to side of same. Interior fine-to-very fine with only a hint of age-toning mostly to blank margins of page leaves; bumping to corners of some of same. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8335]

Price: $25.00