Carver, Raymond

Where Water Comes Together With Other Water: Poems

New York, NY, USA: Random House, 1985. First Edition. Hardcover. "Long before he thought of his own death, | my dad said he wanted to lie close| to his parents. He missed them so | after they went away. | He said this enough that my mother remembered, | and I remembered. But when the breath | left his lungs and all signs of life had faded, he found himself in a town | 512 miles away from where he wanted most to be." (opening stanza, "My Dad's Wallet," pg. 55). American Pulitzer Prize winning author Raymond Carver's (1938-1988) Where Water Comes Together With Other Water is a celebrated collection of poems that reflects his minimalist style & profound insights into ordinary life. The title itself evokes imagery of confluence, suggesting a meeting point of different experiences and emotions, much like rivers merging into larger bodies of water. Carver's style has been described as "dirty realism," which connected him with a group of writers who focused on sadness and loss in the everyday lives of ordinary people—often lower-middle class or isolated and marginalized people. In 1977 Carver took home the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his third major-press collection, Cathedral, the volume generally perceived as his best. Included in that collection are the award-winning stories "A Small, Good Thing" & "Where I'm Calling From" (See Item No. 5644). Raymond Carver's influence on literature is profound, characterized by his minimalist style, focus on blue-collar life, and the emotional depth of his characters. Carver's work played a crucial role in the revival of the short story genre and continues to inspire writers and resonates with readers, making him a central figure in the study of contemporary American literature. From the collection of Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), poet, editor, and professor in the University of Michigan Department of English Language & Literature. Hardcover in Unclipped Dust Jacket: First Edition as stated at copyright page, first printing as indicated by number sequence thereon (ending with a "2" per publisher's then custom). A most collectible Carver collection of poetry in its rarest contemporary form, with very distinguished provenance. Book in relatively very fine condition with very mild rubbing to back cover; mild rubbing to text block. Interior very fine with no discernible flaws. Dust Jacket very fine with mild age-toning mostly to spine & fine edges of front & back covers where they meet the spine. Very Fine. [Item #8841]

Price: $50.00