SELECTED POEMS 1947 - 1995

Book Description

[New York]: HarperCollins, [1996].. Cloth and boards. About fine in dust jacket. Second impression of the first edition. Inscribed and signed by Ginsberg on the title-page: Allen Ginsberg for Lucien Carr & Family 12/23/96 Merry Christmas Happy New Year." On the blank page facing the title, Ginsberg has drawn a full page depiction of a skeleton (with hat) surrounded by a large, decorative snake chasing its tail, the whole against a field of stars, and inscribed at the bottom: "For LC from AG 12/23/96." Laid in is an invitation to an exhibit of Ginsberg's photographs at Tibor de Nagy Gallery. Ginsberg met Carr at Columbia University in 1943, and through Carr met Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and William Burroughs. In the NYT Obituary for Carr (30 January 2005), Ginsberg's earlier comment about Carr's role in the circle of friendships that gave birth to the literary arm of the Beat generation was quoted: "Lou was the glue." Carr went to work for United Press International in 1946 and was promoted to night news editor in 1956, coincident with the preparations for press of the first public edition of HOWL. Carr was included, with Kerouac, Burroughs and Cassady, in the printed dedication, and when he received his copy, wrote Ginsberg expressing "one small gripe" about his inclusion there, and requesting, out of deference to his privacy, that Ginsberg avoid such mention in future books. At Ginsberg's expense, Carr's name was deleted from the dedication page of the second impression (then already printed), and from subsequent printings, including this printing. Nonetheless, in 1982, Ginsberg dedicated PLUTONIAN ODE to Carr, "... for friendship all these years...."

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