Charles Olson, The Fiery Hunt and other plays, Uitgave University of Connecticut Library 1977. Paperback 125 pp. (14)

This volume continues the effort to bring together the writings which Charles Olson left behind at his death in 1970. Presented here are the eleven known plays and verse dramas which he wrote during his career as poet. None was ever performed, a few were even abandoned before completion, but they all are notable for their willingness to explore the formal possibilities of theater." Charles Olson (1910-1970), a physical & intellectual giant, forever impacted American poetry as the theoretical-practical sage of Black Mountain College in its last years; the creator of a Magnum Opus series of poems that brought his "Maximus" poetic personae to life; & much more. Olson was also an intense prose writer &, as we see in this volume, a playwright, albeit unperformed as noted above in an introduction by the late George Butterick, one of Olson's foremost associates & authorities, & the author of an appropriately massive study of the Maximus poems. As noted on back cover, "included is Apollonius of Tyana, written at Black Mountain College and one of the most important summarization's of the poet's thought to be had, with a central character who stands forth as a fascinating analogue to Maximus himself." First softcover edition, issued concurrently or closely with a hardcover edition. An essential piece of the Olson puzzle, for the collector & scholar of this most difficult yet inspiring, deeply allusive master of American letters. In very fine condition with only light rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; light wear & tiny bumps at edges & corners of same; mild browning esp. at/near edges of covers & spine of same; light rubbing to lower edge of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves; otherwise substantially mint.