Wormwood Review 53 (#29/40) – Signed with Drawing and Quote by Charles Bukowski

Published in 1974, Wormwood 53 contains a special Charles Bukowski section, “55 Beds In The Same Direction.”

Although you’ll occasionally find copies on the market that have Bukowski’s signatures on the cover, this is one of 40 special copies signed by Charles Bukowski and editor Marvin Malone. This is copy “twenty nine”.

On this cover, Bukowski has added a large drawing and the quote:

The Yowl Cats
The Swine In
The Pearl

This copy is in Near Fine + condition with some light stains on the rear cover.

The issue contains 9 Bukowski poems, five of which have yet to be published again.

• 200 Years - pg. 14
• Finish - pg. 16                                   
• 55 Beds In The Same Direction - pg. 18
• Well, Now That Ezra Has Died - pg. 21
• Tarot - pg. 22
• Eleven - pg. 23
• No Bra, No Panties - pg. 24
• A Bit Of Light For The Toad - pg. 26
• Demise - pg. 28

Finish, Tarot, Eleven, No Bra, No Panties, and A Bit Of Light For The Toad have yet to be published again.

55 Beds In The Same Direction and Well and Now That Ezra Has Died would appear in Storm for the Living and the Dead (2017), 200 Years would appear in Come On In! (2006), and Demise would appear in What Matters Most Is How Well You Walk Through The Fire (1999).

Wormwood Review was published by the legendary Marvin Malone (1930-1996). Malone was a pharmacologist, scientific researcher, educator, artist, poetry collector, and editor. Upon arrival to Storrs, Connecticut in 1960, Malone discovered the second issue of Wormwood Review and soon took over the publication as the sole editor, publisher, and designer (alias A. Sypher), producing quarterly issues until his death in 1996.

Wormwood Review ran for 144 issues (1959-1997). Christa Malone, Marvin's daughter, co-edited issue 144 after Marvin's death, and released issue 145/146 as a special tribute issue to Marvin in 1999.

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