Various (Gosciak, J.G. (Editor); Kenny, Maurice (Editor); Clark, Tom; Duncan, Robert; Kerouac, Jack et al.)

Contact/II Vol. 8 No. 41/42/43 (Winter 1987)

New York, NY: Contact II Publications, 1987. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. A highbrow literary journal from the late 1970s edited by the poet, Maurice Kenny (1929-2016) and J.G. Gosciak. What this writer, Your Devoted VP-of-Operations here at Third Mind Books, would like readers to notice about this late literary journal—which originated in the late 1970s—is the level at which the discourse is operating. Its topics, in other words — everything listed under the sub-heading titled “American Criticism Deconstructed” — are a perfect snapshot of ‘what literary journals of this time expected their readers, and the writers who submitted to magazines like Contact to know. This calls to mind Joan Didion’s essay on the editorial atmosphere surrounding Vanity Fair in the early days — which required its writers to know a dizzying amount about high culture as well as pop culture. What YDVP suggesting, then is that — despite its limited readership and effective provinciality with relation to the other magazines, journals, and art of that time — this was a magazine made by heavyweights, for heavyweights. You cannot bullshit your way through this class. Make sense? This vitalizing insistence on authenticity, and on a demand for excellence in a world increasingly deprioritizing it, is what makes Contact II — No. 41/42/43 special. Contributions by or relating to the likes of Tom Clark (1941-2018), Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), Robert Duncan (1919-1988) & others are present. Sections on “Post-Modernism, Language Poetry, the Objectivists, Fluxus, Avant-Garde Poetry,” and several other topics also accordingly feature. Are you up to the challenge? 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 among the most gigantic men-of-letters of the twentieth century—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). Literary journal in stapled wrappers: the first-&-likely only printing of Contact II/ 41/42/43. In strong near fine condition with only minor-to-moderate shelf-wear to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; some age-toning, rubbing, light bumping, rusting & fleck-like bleeding to staples at interior & exterior; light-to-moderate age-toning throughout; otherwise, clean. Near Fine. [Item #8619]

Price: $40.00 save 15% $34.00