1st, signed by author, As Dream and Shadow by Emil Petaja (1972)

Description: As Dream and Shadow by Emil Petaja (signed) Illustrated by Hannes Bok SISU First Edition Description: Hardback book published by SISU in 1972. Copyright page states 'Limited to 1000 copies'. Inscribed 'For my dear friend ????, with every good wish Best always' by the author on the title page. A book of fantasy poetry. SReview posted by thomas gladysz: Today, Emil Petaja (1915 - 2000) is best known as a writer of fantasy and science fiction. However, many of his first literary efforts were of an all-together different sort. Emil Petaja wrote poetry - fantastical, dream-filled, brooding verse. Early on, he won a "couple of minor regional poetry contests," and his work appeared in publications like Weird Tales, The Californian, and Stirring Science Stories. Petaja's two published books of poetry are "Brief Candle" (a mimeograph chapbook dating from around 1935), and "As Dream and Shadow" (an edition of 1000 hardback copies was published in 1972). This latter book - a sort of selected poems - collects work written largely in the 1930's and 1940's. (Other differently themed poetry - dating from the 1950's - remains unpublished.) Science fiction and poetry may seem a strange mix, but the history of fantastic verse goes way back. Two of its significant 20th century practitioners include Clark Ashton Smith (a longtime friend of Petaja), and H. P. Lovecraft (with whom Petaja corresponded). Both influenced Petaja's efforts as a poet. The great illustrator Hannes Bok, whose friendship inspired some of these works, admired Petaja's verse enough that he drew four illustrations for a long narrative work, "Dark Roads." This book-length work, begun in 1931 when Petaja was 16, is excerpted in "As Dream and Shadow." (Also included are Bok's original illustrations, along with many other black and white works by this noted artist.) Petaja is by no means a great poet. His work is, at times, somewhat old-fashioned or even "tame" - as the author himself suggests in the introduction. Who were his other influences? This Montana-born writer lists Shakespeare's sonnets, Edith Sitwell and Edna St. Vincent Millay, as well as Coleridge, Yeats, Crane and Dickinson. At a time of revolutionary upheaval in American poetry, Petaja turned to past forms and idiosyncratic individuals for inspiration. Petaja's notable poems include sonnets dedicated to Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, both of whom expressed their admiration. Lovecraft said of "Lost Dream," "It has a genuine and pervasive grace, and a series of eminently powerful and appropriate images." Howard, commenting on "The Warrior," said, "I feel deeply honored that a poem of such fine merit should be dedicated to me. You seem to grasp the motif of my stories . . . more completely than any one I have yet encountered. This fine sonnet reveals your understanding of the abstractions I have tried to embody in these tales." Included in "As Dream and Shadow" is the Lovecraft-derived "Cthulhu Done It," as well as fine poems of personal feeling, such as "And Having Seen" and "Nova." Also of note is the seven sonnet sequence that comprises "On Listening to the Music of Jean Sibelius." This great Finnish composer, another artist who resisted the forces of change that swept the arts during the 20th century, is kindly served by these quiet homages. Condition: Binding - near fine, top and bottom of spine bumped. Dust jacket - very good, a little age darkening, a small scratch on front cover near top of spine, minor edgewear, not price clipped, in dust jacket protector. Our Business Policies: Use the Contact Seller link near the top of this listing to see our FAQs, which should answer most questions about our business and listing policies. We have moved the extensive text we used to have here to those FAQs. Shipping and Packing: General Information: We always ship in sturdy new boxes with premium heavy duty packing tape, bubblewrap and filler to keep the item(s) away from the sides of the box. The pictures below show the boxes that we use for shipping. A Note On Customs: When customs forms are required for a shipment, we fill them out honestly, stating that the contents are merchandise and giving the price you paid for the item (not including the shipping) as the value. Please do not ask us to do otherwise. Take any customs duty that you will have to pay into consideration before making your purchase. Please note that many countries have restrictions on the import of certain goods and sometimes on the maximum value that can be shipped to the country by various shipping methods. Priority Mail International insurance cannot be purchased for all countries and some limit the amount of insurance that can be purchased (default indemnity coverage seems to apply to all countries). Details on shipping conditions by country can be found on the United States Post Office web site.

Price: 46 USD

Location: Fresno, California

End Time: 2024-02-26T05:20:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.05 USD