Fracture

Santa Barbara, CA: Black Sparrow Press. Fine with no dust jacket. 1983. Limited/Numbered Signed Edition. Hardcover. Tiny dent to the tail of the rear board. Pinpoint dot to the tail of the front board. Publisher's clear acetate wrapper is scuffed, with a tiny chip at the spine head.; Clayton Eshleman (1935-2021) was a widely acclaimed poet, literary translator, editor, and translator, garnering numerous international awards, fellowships, grants, and residencies. Grouped in 4 chapters, these 48 poems demonstrate Eshleman's fluid, prose-like, free verse style that that has been variously termed surrealist, Postmodernist, and 'American grotesque.' With the author's in-text line drawings on two facing pages, reproduction of a cave painting, and Notes on chapter contents. This is copy 112 of a limited edition of 200, numbered and signed on the colophon by the author. Paginated 145,[blank],[1],blank,[1]. Inscribed by Eshleman to "Elizabeth & Joel / Dear friends : I think this / is my most coherent book : / I'd like for you to have it. The / Introduction says all I can say / about the extent the past seems / to be stuffed in the present, & vice- / versa. / c g eshleman / 5 jan 88 / ypsilanti" and likely inscribed when the poet was Professor Emeritus at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Another high-quality book from Black Sparrow Press, the quarter cloth with illustrated papers over boards is essentially a signature style of the press. Book design by Barbara Martin and printing by Graham Mackintosh and Edwards Brothers. In the publisher's clear acetate wrapper, this is a clean, Fine copy.; Ink line drawings; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 145 pages; Signed by Author .