Harris, Oliver (Burroughs, William S.; Ginsberg, Allen; Kerouac, Jack et al.)

One Shot: A Beat Generation Mystery

ISBN: 9783910431584
Berlin, Germany: Moloko Print, 2024. First Edition. Softcover. "If you only know one photograph of the Beat Generation, you know this one. It's the single most famous picture of (William S.) Burroughs, (Allen) Ginsberg, and (Jack) Kerouac, but who took it, when, where, and why? What are its secrets, and how can it be a crime scene? Whatever you think you know is almost certainly wrong, so to unravel its mysteries and find out where all the bodies are buried, follow the footsteps of the world's most dedicated Burroughs scholar as he applies his forensic sleuthing skills to the image that defined the Beat Generation. Always fascinating, sometimes funny, occasionally dark, and with a twist ending, One Shot is a page-turner, a hybrid of detective fiction, personal memoir, and endlessly obsessive scholarship. Or as Harris himself puts it: "Depending how you look at it, this is either a triumphant tour de force, a virtuoso performance of scholarly ingenuity and passion, or an indulgent self-parody, a reductio ad absurdum of academic work. I like to think it's hard to tell the difference." (front cover flap) The latest (not for long...) work of brilliant Burroughsian Skullership by Dr. Oliver Harris, the very Foremost Authority on the life & work of William S. Burroughs, Founding Father of the Beat Generation-&-Beyond, among the greatest & most influential literary & cultural figures of all time, indeed the very Patron-Icon of our Third Mind enterprise. The classic early photograph of Kerouac, Ginsberg & WSB (with Hal Chase at left, often cropped out) has been reproduced ad infinitum on the covers & inside scores of primary & critical Beat works, & here the good Dr. Harris, our cherished friend & most-esteemed colleague at the European Beat Studies Network (ebsn.eu) which he founded, gets to the bottom of this image that everyone & yet no one knows- until now, with his famously deep-digging & allusive archeological pursuit that would put even Charles Olson to shame. To boot, it's also accessible, humorous & fun to read "As Ever." With many images of the photograph as it appeared originally & in so many other forms; as well as other rare vintage Beat-&-related images throughout. Softcover in illustrated wrappers with flaps, first edition, first printing (though neither explicated as such at sparse copyright page), another exemplary Moloko production. The density & kaleidoscopic multi-faceted quality of this volume, like all of Dr. Harris' prolific productions & contributions, is sui generis & extends to the very title- a wink at several Burroughsian levels. Don't miss this instant Harris collectible, devour it as we did! See also our item No. 9393. In very fine, virtually as-new condition with only a bit of rubbing & a few faint scratches at front, back covers, flaps & edges; a few tiny bumps, creases at/from edges & corners of same; otherwise appearing pristine inside & out. Very Fine. [Item #9391]

Price: $60.00 save 10% $54.00