Dorn, Edward

Interviews

ISBN: 0877040389
Bolinas, CA: Four Seasons Foundation, 1980. First Edition. Softcover. A highly rewarding volume featuring vital, totally overlooked interviews of Ed Dorn (1929-1999), the great American poet most often affiliated with the literary journal, Wild Dog — Dorn's organizational contribution to the avant-garde print culture of the Mimeograph Revolution. A favorite author of Stephen King’s (b. 1947), who described Dorn’s work as “perfect talismans of writing,” the author behind Gunslinger and other inventive works studied at Black Mountain College under Charles Olson (1910-1970), and remained acquainted, both critically and personally, with the poets that come from that side of the New American Poetry family tree. The earliest of those compiled, here took place in 1961, and the last takes place in Winter, 1979. Without spoiling anything for the work's potential readers, “Middle-westerners,” as F. Scott Fitzgerald used to call them, may be fascinated by the following breadcrumb. “The Flint Interview,” as it’s called here, was named as such because it took place shortly after Dorn’s November 8, 1978 reading at the University of Michigan, Flint. When you get into Olson, his friends & contemporaries, you hear the word “flint” and you start thinking about cave paintings, and fire, and pre-human hominids, and all of this chip-bag air that seemed totally ornamental, or overwrought for Beats. Point being, it’s strange to encounter such topical modesty among a decided Olsonian: and your Devoted, Burroughsian VP-of-Operations here at Third Mind Books certainly digs it. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on Olson. Glover was a student of & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at SUNY Buffalo during the 1960s, & had ever since served outstandingly to bear the Olsonian Torch as bibliographer, editor & publisher. We have just been informed of Glover's passing during February of 2026, & extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Trade-format softcover original: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page (as is often observed with Four Seasons Foundation works); First Printing, with no reference to other printings, thereon. In Good-Very Good condition with mild-to-enunciated shelf-wear, rubbing, bumping, and some bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; a few scattered, low-visibility nicks/scuffs variously present at same; age-toning of a similar gradation also found variously at same; otherwise, generally clean. Good-Very Good. [Item #8755]

Price: $30.00