Olson, Charles (Glover, Albert)

West (English & German Bilingual Edition) with: Ephemera

Berlin, Germany: Literarisches Colloquium, 1969. First Edition. Softcover. With gift inscription & note to Albert Glover. “I’ve been absorbed by the subject of America all my life. One piece of it has been what the enclosed hopes, in that sense, to set down. Actually as in fact it was reading and playing it out as a child in redoubts we imagined trenches and trees on the foot of Fisher’s Hill we were sure had been a part of earlier Indian wars the books of James Altschuler-–and I am now convinced there are indeed only “three” American stories—that which was 1st, the one Cowpens actualized (the “line” which the Proclamation of 1763 made the Appalachian Ridge)---and then the West. So I have here a much larger story than would appear.”--Charles Olson, pg. 6. Offered today is the bilingual edition of the long poem “West” [see item #6602] by Charles Olson (1910-1970), legendary avant-garde, massively influential Black Mountain poet, and second generation Modernist. West is a collection of poems and prose-poems that was originally published in 1966 by Cape Goliard Press, and is a deep dive examination of the landscape of American West and legendary Native American figures. This German-English bilingual edition, translated by Klaus Reichert (b. 1938), acclaimed German translator, poet, and literary scholar who is renowned for his masterful translations of classic English-language literature into German, features the English version of the poems on the left-hand page, and the German on the right. Maintaining the style and voicing of Olson, Reichert’s translation of the obscure, avant-garde poetry into German is masterful and perfectly renders Olson’s work for the non-English speaking German audience. An incredible Olson rarity! From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, bibliographer, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on the aforementioned 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. We have found and retained between front cover and title page a folded piece of paper with a hand-written note in thin black ink: “May 20 / Al– / I thought you might not have this. / It comes from [undiscernable] in Cambridge / The trip West turned out to be all I / anticipated. Beautiful. / Sorry to hear of the misunderstandings / between you and Allen. / I will see you sometime. / Dan.” Signed and inscribed at title page in thin black ink: “To Al, / On his Seventieth / Dan.” Softcover. First edition thus though not explicated as such at copyright page, presumed first printing though similarly not explicated as such thereon. In very fine condition with only minor wear to fine edges, and slight smudging to front and back covers. Interior very fine with no perceptible wear. Very Fine. [Item #9309]

Price: $50.00