ERIKA: POEMS OF THE HOLOCAUST

New York: Vanguard Press, 1984. 1st edition, limited (1/26) lettered and signed, full green cloth, with illustrated dust jacket. Specially inscribed to fellow poet Karl Shapiro on the second FEP. The inscription reads: "For Sophie & Karl Shapiro / with thanks -- and so / glad to see you / again -- and with / so much admiration -- / Bill Heyen / Oct. 20, 1986" in black ink. Shapiro's deeply felt admiration for the poems in ERICA is reflected by his widely published critical review, in part: "As 20th-century poetry that is nakedly quintessential, William Heyen's Erika poems are unmatched. For it is a staggering paradox that the poetry of the Holocaust is best written by non-Jews. Written by Jews the poems of the Holocaust add to the literature of lamentation, the basic literature of the Old Testament. No matter how hauntingly great such works may be they cannot escape self-identification and the voice of the dirge. But to treat the Holocaust in a larger context, to throw light on the poetry of the victim one must be otherwise than the victim. I doubt if they can be equaled." -- Karl Shapiro. The present volume is designated as copy "S" and signed by Heyen on the colophon page. An important association copy between these two distinguished poets. Book and jacket are in fine condition.