Poets In Their Youth. A Memoir
New York: Random House, 1982. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher’s maroon cloth over light blue paper-covered boards, spine and upper board gilt, original illustrated dust jacket.
First edition of writer and psychotherapist Eileen Simpson’s portrait of her husband, poet John Berryman, and his literary circle. Married when she was a student and he an aspiring writer, the couple had a difficult marriage, marked by Berryman’s struggles with alcoholism, mental illness, finances, and ceaseless philandering. Titled after Wordsworth ("We poets in our youth begin in gladness; / But thereof come in the end despondency and madness"), Simpson’s tells numerous compassionate anecdotes about her time with Berryman, with reminiscences of fellow poets Robert Lowell, Randall Jarrell, Jean Stafford, Delmore Schwartz, and others. Simpson wrote the book years after her divorce from Berryman, when a psychology professor with whom she was studying lamented the lack of case studies on poets. This prompted her to reach out to the book’s subjects, all of whom agreed to be interviewed, to her surprise. Illustrated with black-and-white photos, many from Simpson’s personal collection; with an index. Stated first edition to copyright page, with 2 the lowest number in number row, indicating first printing per the publisher's custom. Light sunning to board edges; price-clipped dust jacket with light toning and edgewear. Very good. Item #10584
$40.00