Burroughs, William S.

Letters to Allen Ginsberg 1953-1957

ISBN: 091619017X
New York, NY, USA: Full Court Press, 1982. First Trade Softcover Edition. Softcover. "Written at a turning point in his life- when he was kicking drugs in Tangiers, writing Naked Lunch, and emerging from the literary underworld, these letters from (William S.) Burroughs to his young friend (Allen) Ginsberg are not only an intimate, diaristic account of who was doing what, with whom and when, but also a record, as Burroughs says, of "the transmutation of experience, dated and in context" into fiction we have come to know as contemporary classics...Ginsberg's introduction not only sets the stage and describes his intimate friendship with Burroughs at the time, but also helps fill in the gap left by his long-lost half of the correspondence." (from back cover) The classic collection of letters by William S. Burroughs to his fellow Founding Father of the Beat Generation Allen Ginsberg, written during a crucial experimental & creative period in both their lives. Edited by New York School-&-Beyond Giants Ron Padgett & Anne Waldman, who indicate that all unbracketed footnotes below some of the letters are by Ginsberg. This copy is from the trade softcover edition published by Full Court Press in 1982, preceded by a limited bilingual hardcover edition (1978) & issued simultaneously with a (very) limited numbered & signed hardcover edition. Shoaf, Section I, 43(b), pg. 46; Schottlaender (5.0 edition), H16(C), pg. 186. Among the most delightful & rewarding essential WSB collectibles where hilarious, perceptive & outright revolutionary passages appear in equal measure. In relatively fine condition with mild rubbing, faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; a touch of wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; spine, slightly onto margins of covers, somewhat faded; several very faint, thin creases across length of spine; light rubbing, a hint of age-toning & occasional spotting to edges of text block. Interior fine-to-very-fine with very slight age-toning to blank inner covers & page leaves, mostly at blank margins/edges; tiny bumps at corners of a few leaves. Fine. [Item #9366]

Price: $50.00