Signed by Charles Bukowski: Introduction to Al Purdy’s At Marsport Drugstore

Charles Bukowski wrote the introduction to At Marsport Drugstore, a collection of poems by Al Purdy.

On this copy, he signed his name on the title page.

Bukowski had a regular correspondence with Canadian poet Al Purdy between 1964-1965., when both writers were struggling – Bukowski more than Purdy.

Their correspondence was documented in 1984 when Canadian publisher Paget Press published “The Bukowski/Purdy Letters, 1964-1974: A Decade of Dialogue”. Although the title says 1964-1974, 99 percent of the letters were written between 1964-1965.

Paget Press published “At Marsport Drugstore” in 1977 as a collection of Purdy’s poems. Bukowski’s short introduction may have been the influence for the latter book of letters. In it, he mentions somewhat bitterly that the correspondence suddenly stopped, later on indicating he thought Purdy’s success had something to do with it. Bukowski wrote a poem about the subject around the same time as the introduction.

Regardless of his feelings here, Bukowski is the consummate professional in his introduction. Read it yourself in one of the images.

Like most copies, this one has some sunning to the spine and edges of both covers. There’s also an owner’s note in ink on the first leaf. It may have been read once judging by the spine.

As the Bukowski endorsement conveys, these are great poems and should be read. The elegant Bukowski introduction is a bonus. Highly recommended.

Box 28