Rothenberg, Jerome

The Notebooks

ISBN: 0879240334
Milwaukee, WI: Membrane Press, 1976. First Edition. Softcover. "into the darkness of the jewish life" (opening line, (proem), pg. 1). The Notebooks is a short poem sequence issued at the exact midpoint of Great American poet, translator & anthologist Jerome Rothenberg's (1931-2024) ethnopoetic turn. Poland/1931 had been completed in the New Directions edition in 1974; A Big Jewish Book, the enormous anthology of Jewish visionary and magical texts, appeared in 1978; A Seneca Journal the same year, and Vienna Blood in 1980. Rothenberg spent the mid-70s arguing that the finished, autonomous lyric was a provincial European habit, and that the more interesting model was the working record, i.e. the shaman's notebook, the ceremonial script, the sequence-in-progress. The poems in The Notebooks are set against quoted fragments from kabbalistic, hasidic & visionary sources, which is precisely the compositional method Rothenberg was working out in his anthology. The poet's own voice is placed in a call-and-response with recovered traditional material rather than framed as commentary. From the collection of Albert Glover (1942-2026), the esteemed American poet, editor, bibliographer, publisher & academician who was the foremost remaining authority on Charles Olson (1910-1970). 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. Third Mind Books is deeply saddened by the recent passing of our friend & mentor. Trade-Format Softcover Original: First Edition, first printing though neither explicated as such at copyright page. A most collectible Rothenberg poetic entry in its likely rarest contemporary form with relevant association & very distinguished provenance. In relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild-verging-on-moderate age-toning mostly to fine edges of front, back covers & spine; very mild rubbing to fine edges & bumping of corners of same; mild age-toning & rubbing to text block. Interior fine-to-very fine with mild age-toning mostly to blank margins & fine edges of page leaves. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #9349]

Price: $30.00 save 10% $27.00