ONE OF 25, WITH A DRAWING
Poems 1947-1954.
San Francisco: Adrian Wilson, 1954.
Limited edition of 25 with a signed drawing by the artist/author. 8vo. ONE OF 25, WITH A DRAWING. Decorated boards, with original printed wraparound band; toning, and closed tear to band, otherwise fine Item #346762
In his short life, Kees was a librarian, a short story writer, a novelist, a poet, art critic of The Nation, photographer, filmmaker, abstract expressionist painter photographed as one of the Irascibles, songwriter, jazz composer and pianist, and radio show host. He is still best remembered as one of the darkest and clearest eyed satirists of the late modernist poets. Joseph Brodsky wrote of Kees that "He was a genuine American soloist, with no mute and no support. He played better, to my mind, than Eliot and, on occasion, Auden [...] His poetry...is that of the here and now and of no escape, except for poetry itself. Yet for all he had to say about the present, his language is amazingly clear and direct, and the formal aspects of his verse are amazingly conservative."
Because of his disappearance at the Golden Gate Bridge in 1955, this was his last published collection, and represents not only his sharpest work, but also has one of his abstract expressionist drawings – the other artform that established his lasting fame – bound in.
A nice copy of the best edition of Kees' work.
Price: $5,000.00 Free International Delivery
