Prototype: The Tender Agonies of Charles Bukowski, by Jack Grapes

This is a prototype for a book fellow poet Jack Grapes created in order to pitch it to potential publishers.

Produced around 2007, the book has yet to be published and the prototype indicates it may never have been completed. The table of contents shows nine chapters with three complete and in the others in some stage of in-progress. There are several drawings (one elaborate one which I’d never seen) and Bukowski letters and journal entries that were previously published in Grapes’ poetry journal, ON THE BUS.

Grapes first started corresponding with Bukowski in 1965 after being introduced to him by Jon and Louise Webb of LouJon press. Grapes was a close friend with Jon Webb and he and Bukowski were the only ones allowed in the Webb’s home while they were working furiously to complete CRUCIFIX IN A DEATHHAND. Their correspondence went on for over 30 years.

This copy is in Near Fine-minus condition with a light stain, a pen mark, some spotting, and a crease to the rear cover. The front cover is in Fine condition and the inside pages are clean and white.

I have only seen one other prototype.

Box 28