Author: Asimov, Isaac; Ciardi, John.
Title: A Grossery of Limericks. Isaac Asimov and John Ciardi. [Inscribed with an Original Poem by John Ciardi].
Description: New York / London: W.W. Norton & Company, (1981). (1981). - Octavo, 8-1/2 inches high by 6 inches wide. Lighter blue boards backed with a dark blue cloth spine, titled in gilt on the spine, in a printed dust wrapper. The edges of the dust jacket are lightly creased with heavier creasing to the jacket's inner flaps. The pastedowns and endpapers are foxed, and there is occasional smudging to the inscription and poem. (xvi), 101 & [3] pages. Very good.

First edition, first printing with a full number line.

INSCRIBED BY JOHN CIARDI TO PHILIP BURTON WITH AN ORIGINAL POEM. Both Ciardi and Burton were members of the group dubbed "The Key West Writers". Burton (1904-1995), a theatre director, is perhaps best remembered for having tutored the young actor Richard Jenkins who took on his last name, becoming Richard Burton.

The inscription begins: "for Philip Burton, toward, I hope, the illusion of a chuckle. / Said a [masked] performer named Burton, / 'I like to [ring] down a strong curtain..'".

With individual forewords by Asimov and Ciardi. "A second volume of 288 unspeakable [in polite society] poems by the authors of the classic Limericks: Too Gross" - from the dust wrapper copy. Very good .

Keywords: LITERATURE; A GROSSERY OF LIMERICKS; JOHN CIARDI; ISAAC ASIMOV; PHILIP BURTON; RICHARD JENKINS; RICHARD BURTON; POETRY; KEY WEST WRITERS; ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT POEM; INSCRIBED; SIGNED; AUTOGRAPH; SIGNATURE; FIRST EDITION; FIRST PRINTING; 1ST EDITION; 20TH C

See more books from our catalog: Literature