Author: [BISHOP, Elizabeth] GREENBERG, Samuel
Title: Poems by Samuel Greenberg
Description: New York, Henry Holt and Company, (1947). First Edition. Hardcover. Preface by Allen Tate. Elizabeth Bishop's copy SIGNED by her on the front endpaper. In a letter to Robert Lowell dated 27 June 1950 Bishop writes of THIS book: "I spent most of the weekend reading Samuel Greenberg--have you? I got so mad at the introductions, particularly Tate's--and if you haven't read the poems I recommend them highly. He was certainly one of the finest poetic characters I know anything about, and phrases are magnificent--and no critic has ever apparently appreciated either at their real value" (ONE ART: ELIZABETH BISHOP'S LETTERS, p. 204). In another letter to Robert Lowell dated August 1950, Bishop writes: "I'm reading The 'Green Huntsman' and it's marvelous--also just finished Samuel Greenberg and Isaac Rosenberg who have many strange points in common" (WORDS IN AIR: THE COMPLETE CORRESPONDENCE OF ELIZABETH BISHOP AND ROBERT LOWELL). Clearly even two months later this book was still in the forefront of Bishop's mind. While we have handled several copies of Bishop's books signed by her as well as correspondence, this is the first book from the poet's library that we have encountered. It appears, also, to be a book that had some influence on Bishop's development as a poet. Greenberg was also a huge influence on the poet Hart Crane, who first read Greenberg in manuscript. Crane was so taken by Greenberg, he lifted entire lines for his own poems. The cloth was damaged by water at some point with the result that it is discolored. There is only slight water damage to the dustwrapper. Still Very Good in a Very Good dustwrapper .

Keywords: Signed, Author's Library, Elizabeth Bishop, Allen Tate, Modern Firsts Modern First Editions Women's Literature Modern Poetry Literature: American


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