Levine, Philip

The Mercy: Poems

ISBN: 0375401385
New York, NY, USA: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. First Edition. Hardcover. Inscribed & signed by Philip Levine to Laurence Goldstein. "Philip Levine's new collection of poems...is a book of journeys: the necessary ones that each of us takes from innocence to experience, from youth to age, from confusion to clarity, from sanity to madness and back again, from life to death, and occasionally from defeat to triumph." (from front flap) A collection of life journey-themed poems by Philip Levine (1928-2015), the great Pulitzer Prize-winning Detroit born-&-bred American poet who was the Bard of the Working Class, & served as Poet Laureate of the United States during 2011-2012. Hardcover in unclipped first-issue dust jacket (with $22 price printed at front flap, "4/99" at rear flap), first edition as stated at copyright page, first printing though not specified thereon per custom of publisher. At shorter title page (recto third leaf), Levine has cursively hand-written & signed in bold black ink: "for Larry/ with Hope for/ the Republic,/ (signed) Philip Levine." "Larry" is Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), the esteemed American poet, film critic, editor & academician here at the University of Michigan. An essential Levine collectible in its rarest contemporary form, greatly enriched by Levine's stirring poet-to-poet inscription to goldstein & with most-distinguished association & provenance. Book in very fine condition with only a hint of wear to edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; several tiny spots at red-dyed upper edge of text block. Interior very fine with only several small vertical blister-waves at blank rear paste-down (likely a minor flaw as issued); tiny bumps, creases at upper corners of a few page leaves. Dust jacket very fine with only a bit of rubbing, faint scratching & areas of very light age-toning to front, back covers, spine & flaps; a touch of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same esp. at spine-edges, corners. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #8503]

Price: $100.00