JOURNALS MID-FIFTIES 1954 - 1958

Book Description

[New York]: HarperCollins, [1995].. Cloth and gilt boards. Soft crease in front free endsheet, else about fine in slightly spine-sunned dust jacket. First edition. Edited by Gordon Ball. Inscribed and signed by Ginsberg on the title-page: "Allen Ginsberg 5/28/95 for Lucien Carr steadfast Affection Decade after Decade." The top portion of the title page is framed by Ginsberg's drawing of a "Tyger!" Laid in is publisher's compliments card, noting the copy was sent on Ginsberg's behalf. 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. Nonetheless, in 1982, Ginsberg dedicated PLUTONIAN ODE to Carr, "... for friendship all these years...." Carr, of course, figures in the text and index.

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