Where Water Comes Together with Other Water. Poems by Raymond Carver
New York: Random House, 1985. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher’s black cloth over terracotta paper-covered boards, spine stamped in bronze, upper board blind stamped, original illustrated dust jacket.
"The places where water comes together with other water. Those places stand out in my mind like holy places." First edition of leading light of American fiction Raymond Carver’s late-career poetry collection. Better known for his short stories, he once referred to himself as an "occasional poet." The reality was that poetry was a primary focus for him, particularly in the mid-1980s The winner of Poetry magazine’s Levinson Prize, this gathering of eighty poems, all written in Carver’s hallmark realist style, engages with grief, alcoholism, failed relationships, and death. Many were written at poet (and Carver's second wife) Tess Gallagher’s house in Port Angeles, Washington, where he originally planned to work on new fiction. Dust jacket designed by Paul Bacon, prolific illustrator and pioneer of the "big book look." Stated first edition on the copyright page, with 2 the lowest number in number row, indicating first printing per the publisher's custom. Author photo to rear panel of dust jacket by Marion Ettlinger. Fine in unclipped dust jacket. Item #8297
$75.00