WILLIAMS, William Carlos. Kora in Hell: Improvisations.

WILLIAMS, William Carlos. Kora in Hell: Improvisations.No Ideas but in Things WILLIAMS, William Carlos. Kora in Hell: Improvisations. San Francisco: City Lights Books (Pocket Poets Series Number 7). 1957. Small 4to. Bold red template with red lettering to cover; encased in glassine wrappers which have done a good job in preserving the body; pp. [2], 5 6, [2], 9 83; minimal stain to top right corner of front cover; else near fine. First edition, one of 1500 copies. William Carlos Williams inisted that new

No Ideas but in Things

WILLIAMS, William Carlos. Kora in Hell: Improvisations. San Francisco: City Lights Books (Pocket Poets Series Number 7). 1957.

Small 4to. Bold red template with red lettering to cover; encased in glassine wrappers which have done a good job in preserving the body; pp. [2], 5-6, [2], 9-83; minimal stain to top right corner of front cover; else near fine.

First edition, one of 1500 copies.

William Carlos Williams inisted that new verse must exhibit "a new conscious form". Williams' practised as a doctor for the duration of his life in the working class population of New Jersey and therefore witnessed first hand the exploitative nature of social institutions and the neglect of their human subjects. In "Paterson" he argues that there are "No Ideas but in Things" and this is a recurring premise constant throughout the entire body of his work; the notion that imaginary worlds and intimate vantage points can arise from the most commonplace. He describes in Kora in Hell the image:

This is a slight stiff dance to a waking baby whose arms have been lying curled back above his head upon the pillow, making a flower - the eyes closed. Dead to the world! Waking is a little hand brushing away dreams. Eyes open. Here’s a new world.

"You are a poet/ who believes/ in the power of beauty/ to right all/ wrongs/ I believe it also"; Williams' words carry the implication that works of the imagination may grant individuals the opportunity to recreate their dire social realities and through the capacity of inspiring language - elevate the context of an unfulfiling existence.

Kora in Hell was written in 1920 and William Carlos Williams writes in the Prologue of this 1957 edition that it remained, "more of less a secret document for my own wonder and amusement known to few others". This is an opportunity to share in the unique wonder of his verse.

SKU: 2120368