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Selected Poems
Hardcover. One of a limited edition of 1,000 copies. The second in the Therpewin Poetry Series. Introduction by Ruth Fainlight. Includes a memoir by Allen Ginsberg and a poem by Ted Hughes. Dust jacket design by Ralph Steadman. Penned dedication by Ruth Fainlight on front endpaper and signature of Ruth Fainlight is penned on title page. Edge-worn dust jacket with considerable sunning along upper edges and jacket spine. Jacket has several small grubby marks. Jacket spine ends and leading corners are worn and nicked. Pastedowns, endpapers and pages are lightly sunned; one or two very small grubby marks on back pastedown and back endpaper. Binding is sound and pages are tight throughout. Text is clear. AF
- GenresPoetry
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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April 13, 2025
A very strong collection of poems overall.
The poems in the first half of the book are excellent, in terms of imagery, their musicality, and startling originality.
The poems in the second-half of the book are of a very different style, sometimes surrealistic and one can feel the influence of the Beats on Fainlight here, especially Ginsberg and Burroughs. (Some of the final poems reminded me of lines from Burroughs' cut-ups).
It's a shame that Fainlight has been so overlooked, including among the Beats. His rattled performance at the 1965 Albert Hall may have not made much of an impression on poetry lovers, but believe me, when you read Fainlight's poems, you will be blown away by how precise his imagery is and by how musical it sounds. His sister, Ruth Fainlight, is a much more famous poet but Harry's work definitely deserves a closer look.
I believe there are still quite a few poems of his that remain unpublished. Here's hoping one day they will see the light of day ......
The poems in the first half of the book are excellent, in terms of imagery, their musicality, and startling originality.
The poems in the second-half of the book are of a very different style, sometimes surrealistic and one can feel the influence of the Beats on Fainlight here, especially Ginsberg and Burroughs. (Some of the final poems reminded me of lines from Burroughs' cut-ups).
It's a shame that Fainlight has been so overlooked, including among the Beats. His rattled performance at the 1965 Albert Hall may have not made much of an impression on poetry lovers, but believe me, when you read Fainlight's poems, you will be blown away by how precise his imagery is and by how musical it sounds. His sister, Ruth Fainlight, is a much more famous poet but Harry's work definitely deserves a closer look.
I believe there are still quite a few poems of his that remain unpublished. Here's hoping one day they will see the light of day ......
Displaying 1 of 1 review