Bukowski, Charles (subject); Fox, Hugh (author)

CHARLES BUKOWSKI: A CRITICAL AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL STUDY [SIGNED] TOGETHER WITH THE PUBLISHER'S UNBOUND PROOF SHEETS, AND RELATED CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING PUBLICATION

[Somerville, MA]: Abyss Publications, 1969. First Edition. Item #6567

Quarto (28cm); mimeographed sheets (recto and verso), side-stapled into pictorial card covers; [ii],121,[1]pp. While not called for, this copy has been signed by Bukowski on the title leaf. Subtle toning to margins of first and last leaves, light wear and handling to wrappers, with a few very faint splash marks to front cover, which is pulling away slightly from the upper staple; contents clean, complete; Very Good+ or better. Offered together with a set of unbound proof sheets for a later, revised edition (apparently unpublished) of the same title – this one bearing an introduction not printed in earlier editions, dated November, 1988. Mild handling, else Fine, housed in a dark yellow clasp-bound envelope with "Fox / Proofs" written in pencil, in an undetermined hand.

Offered together with four pieces of correspondence between Fox, Jeffrey Weinberg, John Martin, and Charles Bukowski regarding publication:

1. 2pp typed letter, signed, from Fox to Jeffrey Weinberg, dated October 31, 1985, on a sheet of Fox's pale grey laid paper stationary (measuring 8.5" x 11"). 61 lines, signed "Hugh / Connie" in red pencil. Fox relays some information regarding the publication history of Charles Bukowski: A Critical and Bibliographical Study, expressing his interest in Weinberg publishing a revised edition, and soliciting his input on any changes he felt necessary. He also goes on at length, quite candidly, regarding long history as a transvestite, his recent visit to "a sex-change doctor" in New York, undergoing hormone therapy, and the tension between "being MALE, FATHER, IRISH CATHOLIC TEACHING AT A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY and feeling FEMALE, MOTHER, PAGAN all my life...". Old horizontal folds from mailing, some handling, else well-preserved.

2. Typed letter, signed from John Martin to Jeffrey Weinberg, dated June 16, 1989, on a single sheet of Black Sparrow Press stationary (measuring 8.5" x 11"). 26 lines, signed "Sincerely, John." Bukowski's friend and long-time publisher mentions discussing Weinberg's plan to publish a revised edition of Fox's Charles Bukowski: A Critical and Bibliographical Study, sending him a copy of the book to gauge his thoughts. "Hank called to say that he had always disliked the book and didn't want it reprinted. I explained to him that we had no control over the narrative portions of the book but that we could withhold permission to quote from his poems." Old horizontal folds from mailing, some handling, one small spot of correction fluid, and a faint diagonal crease.

3. Photocopied computer-generated TLS from Bukowski to John Martin, dated 6-16-89, on white bond (measuring 8.5" x 11"). The text is brief, confirming Bukowski's thoughts on republication of Fox's work: "I'd rather that the Hugh Fox work on my early books not be reprinted. I find the work both hasty and a bit dull. No good purpose could come of a reprint." Old horizontal folds from mailing, with some mild handling.

4. Photocopied TLS from Fox to Jeffrey Weinberg, printed on white bond (measuring 8.5" x 11"), dated June 25, 1989, and signed in ink "Best, Hugh". A brief but strongly-worded letter, responding to both Martin's and Bukowski's sentiments regarding republication of his book. "Poets and other writers have no censorship control over what is written about them -- including reasonably short quotes from their works. Bukowski has no say over the reprint of this book. When I first sent it to him he was delighted by it. Whatever the old poet now on the brink of death thinks, lashing out in anger at Time and Dissolution is totally irrelevant. My advice is -- GO AHEAD AND PUBLISH THE BOOK AND DON'T LET EMBITTERED LITTLE HITLERS DESTROY THE FIRST AMENDMENT." Old horizontal folds from mailing, with some light handling.

The first critical and bibliographical study of the works of Charles Bukowski, predating Sanford Dorbin's A Bibliography of Charles Bukowski, published by the Black Sparrow Press the same year. Fox (1932-2011) was an author and scholar who taught American literature at Loyola University in Los Angeles. In addition to critical studies of Bukowski and Lyn Lyfshin, they wrote numerous volumes of poetry under the name Connie Fox, and in 1968, founded Ghost Dance: The International Quarterly of Experimental Poetry, which they edited for 27 years. The first edition of his critical work on Bukowski is uncommon in commerce, and this is the first example we've seen signed by Bukowski himself.

Price: $1,850.00