Middleton, Christopher

Our Flowers & Nice Bones

London, England, UK: Fulcrum Press, 1969. First Edition. Hardcover. A volume of poems by the poet and translator, Christopher Middleton (1926-2015). Middleton served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and studied at Merton College, Oxford afterwards, graduating in 1948. He went on to teach at the University of Zurich and King’s College, London, among other prestigious institutions of higher learning. Later in life, Middleton became known as a translator of Germanic Languages and Literature, publishing celebrated translations of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) & Johann Christian Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843), among several others. This volume, which showcases not Middleton’s mastery of German prose but of 20th century verse forms, is a treat for the curious. Hardcover in unclipped dust-jacket: “First Edition 1969,” per notation on copyright page; First Printing, with no reference to other printings, thereon. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England with Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our item no.s 8217, 8366). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House, including this. In strong near fine condition with only minute-to-moderate shelf-wear to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; some light bumping & correspondent light creasing to same; moderate staining, spotting & some moisture-based crinkling to text block at various locales; otherwise, generally clean. Dust-jacket in Very Good condition with only mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, light bumping, rubbing, & age-toning throughout; otherwise, generally clean. Near Fine / Very Good. [Item #8728]

Price: $50.00