You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense

BUKOWSKI, Charles

Published by Black Sparrow Press, 1986

About this Item

BUKOWSKI, Charles You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense Santa Rosa: Black Sparrow Press, 1986 8vo., pink cloth-backed cream boards, lettered in blue, purple and pink with a black and white photographic design showing a portrait of the author; paper label printed in matching colours to spine; dark blue endpapers; title in pink, blue and black; monochrome photographed portrait of the author by Michael Montfort to rear; pp. [xii], 13-313, [vii]; with additional tipped-in coloured print Arrange for me this splendid insecurity signed BUK and dated in the year of publication; a near-fine copy with just the odd small spot and mark; a couple of light spots to the fore-edge; a touch bumped at corners; in the original acetate wrapper. Provenance: previously in the Collection of David Kotthoff, without ownership markings. First, limited edition, printed in August 1986 by Graham Mackintosh & Edwards Brothers, Inc., with a design by Barbara Martin. One of just 126 copies, hand numbered and bound by Earle Gray, each with an original signed print by the author. This copy no 66, signed with an original ink self portrait below the colophon. A collection of poems exploring the writer s childhood, along with themes of loneliness, consequences, cats, and the tragic state of growing up. Bukowski spent most of his life in Los Angeles, and had already published several short stories in the 1940s before abandoning writing and becoming a full-time destitute alcoholic. After a break of almost 10 years drifting across America, he returned to the city and began writing poetry, with his first publications appearing in the 1950s, beginning with Flower, Fist and Bestial Wail (1959). Volumes of his poetry would continue to appear over the next 40 years on an annual basis, mostly published by underground publishing houses. The Black Sparrow Press was founded in 1966 to promote the work of Avant-Garde artists, writers and poets. Run by John Martin and his wife Barbara, the press was instrumental in supporting Charles Bukowkski throughout his career. It was 1969 when the pair convinced the then 49 year-old writer to give up his post office job to concentrate solely on his writing. "I have one of two choices stay in the post office and go crazy . or stay out here and play at writer and starve. I have decided to starve , Bukowski wrote. After the Martins published his novel Post Office, Bukowkski continued to publish almost all of his major works with them for the remainder of his life, which caused the small press to become a highly successful enterprise. Lighting new cigarettes, pouring more drinks. It has been a beautiful fight. Still is. .

Seller Inventory # 466

Bibliographic Details

• Title: You Get So Alone At Times That It Just Makes Sense
• Publisher: Black Sparrow Press
• Publication Date: 1986
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: Limited Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)