Butterick, George F.; Glover, Albert; Olson, Charles

The Norse (A Curriculum of the Soul No. 12, 1973)

Canton, NY: The Institute of Further Studies, 1973. Limited First Edition, First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “Sometime after Charles Olson’s [1910-1970] death in January 1970, I told Jack Clarke I wanted to publish some kind of tribute to Olson. He responded by sending me a copy of “A Plan for a Curriculum of the Soul,” which Olson had sent to us for publication in The Magazine of Further Studies No. 5. On the copy Jack had selected 28 terms as “subjects” and to each one he had written the name of a poet who might write a ‘fascicle’ using the term as a title. We agreed that he would request the text and forward it to me and that I would publish and distribute it. I imagined that the project would take about two years, but in fact it took thirty. Many of the fascicles were printed mimeograph, texts and covers. But as the decades passed, I began to employ commercial printers. The issues were sold by subscription or through book dealers. Press runs were usually close to 300 copies. After the final issue (“one’s own Language,” by Lisa Jarnot [a/k/a Isaac Jarnot]) appeared in 2002, I began editing the whole toward a single volume limited edition of 51 copies designed and produced by Michael Russem at Kat Ran Press and bound in Japanese silk by Sarah Creighton. The book was released in 2010 at the Charles Olson Centennial celebration in Vancouver. In 2016 a two-volume trade edition was published by Spuyten Duyvil press” (Albert Glover, from the “Curriculum of the Soul” entry on Steve Clay, of Granary Books’ “From a Secret Location” website). This issue (or “fascicle”), titled The Norse, was authored by George F. Butterick (1942-1988), the most-respected (if tragically short-lived) American poet & scholar who was indeed the foremost authority on Charles Olson, the Towering Black Mountain-&-Beyond super-influential Poet's-Poet who is our favorite Maximus Obscurantist. Along with his friend & colleague Albert Glover (1942-2026), Butterick was mentored & anointed by the Maximus Master himself at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo during the 1960s, co-authored Olson's first bibliography with Glover, & built a definitive mountain of editorial & critical published scholarship before his untimely passing at the age of 45. A remarkable Butterick/Olson collectible. From the collection of Albert Glover, the esteemed American poet, editor, bibliographer, academician & publisher of this very title who was the foremost remaining authority on Olson, as previously noted. We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of our friend & mentor. Chapbook in stapled wrappers: Limited First Edition, First Printing, though not explicated as such on copyright page. In Very Fine condition, virtually as new with only slightest shelf-wear to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; otherwise, pristine with interior unmarked. Very Fine. [Item #9217]

Price: $150.00 save 10% $135.00