Ferlinghetti, Lawrence

The Secret Meaning of Things

New York, NY, USA: New Directions, 1968. First Hardcover Edition. Hardcover. "The Secret Meaning of Things is Lawrence Ferlinghetti's fourth book of poems, and it has all the elements of his earlier poetry: lyrical intensity, wit, social concern, satirical bite, and above all a classical claritas. But it goes much further: there is a deepening of vision and a darker understanding of 'our clay condition.'" (from front flap). A now-classic collection of poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021), the canonical American poet, publisher & bookseller who through his City Lights store & imprint was the key figure in the publication & dissemination of the foundational works of the Beat Generation/San Francisco Renaissance. His passing at the age of 101 was a profound shakeup to the American & world literary & cultural scene, but his wide impact & legacy live on! Among the exemplary poems herein is Assassination Raga (pgs. 3-10), written in the immediate wake of Robert F. Kennedy's murder & recited by Ferlinghetti at Kennedy's funeral. Reproduced on front cover is a photograph by Beth Bagby of Ferlinghetti reading the poem at that event. With all points in Morgan, A20(a), pgs. 50-51. Hardcover in unclipped Dust Jacket: First Hardcover Edition, first printing though neither explicated as such at copyright page. An essential Ferlinghetti collectible from when the immortal poet was in his prime. Book in relatively fine-to-very fine condition with mild rubbing, scratching & light age-toning to front, back covers & spine; mild wear & some tiny bumps, creases at thin edges & corners of same; mild-to-moderate rubbing, age-toning & spot-staining to edges of text block. Interior fine-to-very fine with moderate age-toning mostly to blank margins & fine edges of page leaves; very tiny bumps at corners of some of same; Dust Jacket fine with moderate age-toning, rubbing & scratching to front, back covers, spine & flaps; mild-to-moderate wear mostly to fine edges of same; an appx: 1" occasion of mild spot-staining to top of front cover near front flap. Fine-Very Fine / Fine. [Item #9360]

Price: $40.00 save 10% $36.00