Dorn, Edward

The Cycle

West Newbury, MA: Frontier Press, 1971. First Printing. Softcover. “The Cycle was written in Lawrence, Kansas. During the time I was working on that section [of Gunslinger] I went up to see some films and that passage comes directly out of an evening in which I came back and continued to work. It seemed to me at the time that there were great profundities resident in that idea. I’ve since come to feel that there aren’t. But again this doesn’t matter, because the matter is the poem. I mean it was so literal that night that, in fact, there were names that I since removed because that’s simple enough to do […names of the] filmmakers, actually” (Ed Dorn, p. 32 of Interviews [See TMB Item No. 8755]). A volume of poems by 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 ofStephen 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. As Dorn himself suggests, this work is not likely to make much sense to the reader unless you are familiar with the work in Gunslinger — as this is a sort of experimental offshoot. It’s a great example of how much work there is to be done, still (scholastically) with respect to works by Dorn. 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. Large-format softcover in illustrated wrappers: First Edition, though not explicated as such on copyright page; First Printing, with no reference to other printings, thereon. In Very Good condition with light-to-moderate shelf-wear, some light bumping, and an apportionment of similarly light-to-slightly more enunciated rubbing present at/along fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; moderate-to-enunciated age-toning (yellowing, spotting, & artifacts similar) present, variously throughout, minute-to-moderate rusting & bleeding to staples at exterior and interior; otherwise, generally clean. Very Good. [Item #8759]

Price: $30.00