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Wraps with title and author list on the front; 6 by 9 inches with the wraps slightly larger, which has caused shelf wear. The lower spine of #6 pulled as is the top spine of #9. The cover of #2 has a editorial comment from Ben Raeburn, regarding Edward Dahlberg. The bindings are tight and square. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. In general moderate shelf handling wear. The authors published in Prose, can be described as avant-garde, experimental, and intellectually ambitious. The magazine showcased a diverse range of voices, often featuring works that pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling and explored the intersections of modernism, postmodernism, and existential thought. Many of the writers were deeply engaged with the cultural and political upheavals of the era, grappling with themes of alienation, identity, and societal change. The contributors were often underrepresented or emerging voices in the literary world, and Prose served as a platform for innovative works that blended fragmented narrative styles, surreal imagery, and deep philosophical inquiry. These writers sought to challenge conventions and experiment with new forms of expression, making the publication an important reflection of the literary zeitgeist of the early 1970s. Some of the better know authors include W. H. Auden, Harold Bloom, Kay Boyle, Paul Bowles, M. F. K. Fisher, Alfred Kazin, Annie Dillard. Coburn Britton was a notable figure in 20th-century American publishing, recognized for his contributions as a poet and founder of Horizon Press in the 1960s. In 1970, he launched Prose, a literary journal that showcased both emerging and established poets, reflecting his commitment to fostering literary talent. His professional relationship with author Kay Boyle is documented through their correspondence, highlighting his active engagement in the literary community. As the publisher, Britton s approach to editing was focused on curating a selection of poems that balanced creativity with depth. The magazine featured a broad range of poetry, from free verse to narrative works, all thoughtfully chosen for their literary merit. Britton s editorial choices were driven by a desire to highlight poems that were both artistically engaging and thematically meaningful. Britton was the owner of Horizon Press and this set comes from the estate of Horizon Books publisher Ben Raeburn. Ref Special Collections SIU. A few of the many notable works first published in Prose include: +++ Edward Dahlberg 'The Sacred Logoi: A Letter to Prose' (1970, Issue 1) regarded as a manifesto for literary preservation, widely cited for its list of wise books and as an epitome of Dahlberg s late style. +++ W. H. Auden G.K. Chesterton s Non-Fictional Prose (1970. Issue 1) Auden s assessment helped elevate Chesterton s reputation by highlighting the idiosyncratic delight of his nonfiction, and it also illuminated Auden s own mature views on the role of the essayist. In retrospect, Prose giving first publication to this essay is seen as historically important, bridging Edwardian letters (Chesterton) and mid-century modernism (Auden) in a single work. +++ Harold Bloom Browning s Childe Roland : All Things Deformed and Broken (1970, #1) Reprinted as part of Bloom s The Ringers in the Tower (Univ. of Chicago Press, 1971); widely cited in Browning studies and anthologies, it marked Bloom s emergence as a major literary critic. Anthony Burgess -Shakespeare s Marriage (1970, #1) first appearing in the debut 1970 issue, is a lively speculative piece examining the union of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway and proved to be more than just a curiosity; it coincided with Burgess s own burgeoning role as a Shakespeare expert. +++ Glenway Wescott 'Memories of the Twenties' (1972, #5) this piece in Prose was effectively a literary comeback. In Memories of the Twenties, Wescott reminisces about the expatriate literary scene and cultural milieu of the 1920s recalling.
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