Catalog 148, K
87. (KEROUAC, Jack). McNALLY, Dennis. Desolate Angel. NY: Random House (1979). A biography of "Jack Kerouac, the Beat Generation, and America." With a full page inscription from McNally to John (Clellon) Holmes: "For John Holmes, teacher, friend (of Jack and me, too), inspiration, source of encouragement at the worst times (a benign pox on copyeditors!), kind host, and dearly needed guide to the mind of my subject; only you (and me) will know the breadth and depth of your contribution to this work, but it was fundamental and essential, and I am deeply grateful -- thanks for being there, always, when it counted. This is the best I can give, and it is a joy to offer it. Love & thanks, Dennis. S.F. 8/16/79." An excellent association copy of one of the major biographies of Kerouac inscribed to one of the key figures of the Beat movement. Holmes's novel Go, published in 1952, is considered the first book by and about the Beat generation: the plot is based on his life and his friends Kerouac, Ginsberg, Neal Cassady and the other early figures in the movement. Holmes himself is credited with the first public use of the phrase "Beat generation," which appeared in an article he wrote for The New York Times Magazine in 1952. Minor page edge foxing; near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
88. KESEY, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. NY: Viking (1962). Kesey's landmark first book, a pivotal novel of the literature of the Sixties, which helped to shape a generation's attitudes on issues of authority, power, madness and, finally, individuality. The early printings of the U.S. edition contain text that was later excised and changed after a lawsuit was brought against Kesey and his publisher by a woman who was a nurse at the institution which Kesey used as a model for the novel; she charged him with portraying a character that was based on her (and had the same first name) in a disparaging manner. The character was rewritten after the third hardcover printing, and later editions, including the mass market paperback and the "definitive" text in the Viking Critical Library Series, have an alternate character in her place. With an early inscription by the author: "To ___/ The slowly murmered [sic] occasion equals the quick trick./ Ken Kesey." Offsetting to endpages, a bit of spotting to lower board edge and a couple upper page margins; a near fine copy in a very good dust jacket, unfaded but with a bit of wear to the edges and joints, a closed tear at the lower front spine fold, and surface scratches to the rear panel. A nice copy, with one of Kesey's characteristic enigmatic inscriptions. An earlier inscription than the multicolored ones he did later in his life, and more revealing of Kesey as a writer, someone who enjoyed playing with words.
89. -. Another copy, unsigned. Fine in a very good dust jacket with wear to the spine ends, a bit of spine and edge fading, and two small pen marks near the front spine fold.
90. KESEY, Ken. Sometimes a Great Notion. NY: Viking (1964). His second and most ambitious novel, about a logging family in Oregon, and embodying the individualistic values that helped Kesey to become a counterculture leader and icon. Colorfully signed by Kesey beneath a 1966 gift inscription. This is the state with the Viking ship on the first half-title, and in the first issue dust jacket, with the author photo credited to "Hank Krangler" and only two lines of biographical information about the author on the rear flap. Slight spine lean, thus near fine in a very good, rubbed and price-clipped dust jacket with modest edge wear. Very uncommon signed these days, even more so than Cuckoo's Nest, which is itself quite scarce signed or inscribed.
91. KESEY, Ken. The Day After Superman Died. Northridge: Lord John, 1980. A story about Neal Cassady, Kesey's longtime friend, sometime mentor, and the driver of the Merry Pranksters' bus on its legendary cross-country trip as well as Kerouac's companion on the trip that formed the basis for On the Road, in which Cassady was the model for the main character, Dean Moriarty. One of 350 copies numbered copies signed by the author. Small spot to foredge; mild spine cloth fading; near fine, without jacket, as issued.
92. KESEY, Ken. The Further Inquiry. (NY): Viking (1990). An account of Kesey's famous bus trip with the Merry Pranksters in 1964, written in the form of an imaginary "trial" of the spirit of Neal Cassady -- holy fool and avatar or con man extraordinaire? Cassady was the driver of the bus, and a charismatic figure who inspired and sometimes intimidated the mostly younger people who surrounded him. Small quarto, multi-colored pages, heavily illustrated with photographs including many of Cassady, and a "flip-book" moving picture of Cassady at the lower corner of the pages. Signed by Kesey and by Ken Babbs. Fine in a fine dust jacket.
93. KESEY, Ken. The Sea Lion. (NY): Viking (1991). A children's story by Kesey, attractively illustrated by Neil Waldman. Inscribed by the author with an elaborate stamp and drawing. The stamp is incorporated into the drawing and inscription and is of a frog done in the style of Pacific Northwest Indian art. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Kesey's first children's book, Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear, was an ALA Notable Book.
94. KESEY, Ken. Last Go-Round. (NY): Viking (1994). Co-written with his friend and former Merry Prankster, Ken Babbs. A humorous, well-received novel of a black cowboy and rodeo star at the turn of the century, based on a true story, and combining history, humor, legend and contemporary political and ethical awareness, somewhat in the manner of Larry McMurtry's novels of the Old West, such as Lonesome Dove. Signed by Ken Babbs and inscribed by Ken Kesey over two pages: an ornate inscription -- with at least a half dozen different-colored feathers, sequins, glitter and multicolored inks -- and with the exhortation: "Read High." Of all the elaborate Kesey inscriptions we have seen, this is perhaps the most elaborate -- inscribed "To Kate -- A True Warrior." Fine in a fine dust jacket. Essentially a work of pop art by Kesey and Babbs.
95. (KESEY, Ken). Oregana. (n.p.): University of Oregon, 1954-1957. Kesey's college yearbooks. In Oregana '54, Kesey is pictured as a member of Stizer Hall, a member of the freshman wrestling team, and at the WRA Festival. Rubbing to edges; very good. Oregana '55 pictures Kesey as a member of Skull and Dagger, in the shadows of a stage production, and as a member of Beta Theta Pi. Some foxing and mustiness; very good. In Oregana '56, Kesey is pictured as a member of the Druids (an organization of the most outstanding men in the junior class); a member of the Order of the O (charged with enforcing campus traditions); a columnist for the Oregon Daily Emerald; a cast member of Macbeth; a member of Beta Theta Pi (a mark on this page reverses the names of two rows of men); and a member of the wrestling team. Minor foxing to covers; near fine. Lastly, his senior yearbook (Oregana '57), shows Kesey as a member of the wrestling team and as a narrator in a "Vodvil" skit. A few stains to rear endpages, some rubbing to covers; very good. For the set:
96. (KESEY, Ken). The Last Supplement to the Whole Earth Catalog. (Menlo Park): (Whole Earth Catalog) (1971). Kesey co-edited this supplement and contributed "The Bible," "The I Ching," and "Tools from my Chest," some of the tools being Dope, Lord Buckley, Ashley Automatics, Larry McMurtry, Wendell Berry, Ginseng, Faulkner, Woody Guthrie, The Grateful Dead and more. The cover bears an R. Crumb interpretation of "The Last Supper." Signed by Kesey on the front cover, on the back of one of Crumb's characters. One of the culminating volumes of the 1960s counterculture, linking two of the most iconic figures of the era, Crumb and Kesey. Scarce signed. Very near fine in stapled wrappers.
97. (KESEY, Ken). STRELOW, Michael, ed. Kesey. Eugene: Northwest Review Books (1977). The hardcover issue. Includes introductory essays by Malcolm Cowley and John Clark Pratt (the editor of the Viking Critical Library edition of Cuckoo's Nest); selections from Kesey's manuscript notes for Cuckoo's Nest and Sometimes a Great Notion; and a number of other previously unpublished writings and drawings by Kesey, including excerpts from Seven Prayers by Grandma Whittier. Fine in a near fine dust jacket.
98. (KESEY, Ken). WASSERMAN, Dale. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. London/NY: Samuel French (2000). A Samuel French acting edition of Wasserman's play. Wasserman originally adapted Kesey's novel for the stage in 1963, shortly after the book came out. Kirk Douglas had bought the rights to the book, but couldn't convince Hollywood to make the film. Instead, he starred in the short-lived Broadway adaptation of it. Later, in 1970, Lee Sankowich directed the play at San Francisco's Little Fox Theater, and directed such actors as Danny DeVito, William Devane and Olympia Dukakis, in the San Francisco and later New York productions of it. The show went on to have a record-breaking five year run, the success of which led directly to the decision to produce a film version. The 2001 Broadway revival was directed by Terry Kinney and starred Gary Sinise as McMurphy. This copy is signed by Kesey, Kinney and Sinise. Fine in wrappers.
99. (KESEY, Ken). Time Out New York, Issue 284. NY: Time Out New York, 2001. An article on Gary Sinise, who played McMurphy in Dale Wasserman's stage revival of Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This copy of the magazine is signed by Sinise and by Terry Kinney, who directed the play. Together with a display card for the play, also signed by Sinise and Kinney. Both items fine.
100. KING, Stephen. Needful Things. (n.p.): Viking (1991). The uncorrected proof copy of this novel, subtitled "The Last Castle Rock Story," and (so far) the last of King's books to be set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine, the setting for a half dozen of his novels and an equal number of short stories and novellas. Inscribed by the author: "For ___/ All best/ Stephen King." Fine in wrappers. Proofs signed by King are quite uncommon.
101. KINNELL, Galway. Mortal Acts, Mortal Words. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1980. Inscribed by Kinnell to the poet Ai in 1982. A nice literary association between two major poets: Kinnell has won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, among many other honors, and Ai won the 1999 National Book Award for her collection Vice. This is the simultaneous issue in wrappers; spine-sunned, else fine.
102. KINNELL, Galway. When One Has Lived A Long Time Alone. NY: Knopf, 1990. Poetry, inscribed by Kinnell to the poet Ai "with love" in 1992. This is the simultaneous issue in wrappers; fine.
103. (KINNELL, Galway). BONNEFOY, Yves. On the Motion and Immobility of Douve. Athens: Ohio University Press (1968). Poetry translated by Kinnell. Inscribed by Kinnell to the poet Ai (as Florence): "until we meet, at the/ beginning of the world. Galway." Two small ink stars on contents page; cloth rubbed and held, but still about very good, lacking the dust jacket. A good association copy of an early Kinnell publication.
104. KINSELLA, W.P. Scars. (Canada): (Oberon) (1978). The hardcover issue of the second book by the award-winning author of Shoeless Joe, a collection of Indian stories set on the Hobbema Reserve in western Canada. Signed by Kinsella. The print run for the hardcover issue of this title is unknown, but Oberon books from the same era have been known have had printings of only a few hundred copies, most of which would have gone to libraries. Fine in a near fine jacket with a couple short edge tears. Uncommon in hardcover; rare signed.
105. KURZWEIL, Allen. Typescript of "Elegant Solutions." September 1990. An 8-page text, computer printout, on the life and work of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, the 18th century scientist. Edited, at times harshly, in pencil by another hand. Near fine. Kurzweil's first novel, A Case of Curiosities, published in 1992, earned him a place on Granta's first list of the 20 best young American writers. Together with an autograph note signed from 1991 which says "Thought this might interest you." The note is sealed into the mailing envelope; the "interesting" contents have been removed. Also together with a bilingual (English and French) announcement of the 1994 birth of Kurzweil's son, Maximilian. Unsigned. With baby photo. Fine, with envelope. For all:
106. KUSHNER, Tony. Angels in America. (NY): Theater Communications Group (1993, 1994). The extremely scarce hardcover issues of the two plays comprising "Angels in America": Millennium Approaches and Perestroika. A political epic that chronicled the AIDS crisis of the mid-1980s, it was originally commissioned for the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, an incubator of experimental theater. Millennium Approaches went on to become one of the most highly regarded plays in modern times, winning the Pulitzer Prize, a Tony award for Best Play, a New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, a London Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, and many other awards. Perestroika was also a huge critical success, and won a Tony for Best Play and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, among a number of other awards. A six-part adaptation of the two plays for television won eleven Emmy Awards, including every major acting category and Kushner's own writing, and won five Golden Globe Awards, among dozens of other awards and nominations. "Angels in America" was included as the final item in Harold Bloom's list of the most important works of the Western Canon, which was published in the same year as Perestroika. Volume one, which was the Pulitzer Prize winner for drama in 1993, is signed by Kushner with a handbill laid in for an appearance he made at a New York City bookstore. Both volumes are fine in fine dust jackets. Extremely scarce in hardcover, and more so signed.
107. -. Same title, Part Two: Perestroika only, a second printing. Signed by the author. Fine in a fine dust jacket. A scarce signature, and a scarce hardcover, even in the second printing.