I had some questions about the original City Lights edition of Buk's short stories 'Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions and General Tales of Ordinary Madness'. This is hands down my favorite single collection of Buk writings.
I know that later printings of this book (after '78?) were distributed as the two separate collections (Tales and Most Beautiful).
Since I love this collection, and this forum is filled with experts, I was just wondering if anyone could shed light on my questions to satisfy my love of Buk lore and trivia. Thanks in advance.
1.) I have heard that these stories were complied from both some of his small press/magazine submissions and certain selections from his weekly newspaper column. Can anyone elaborate?
2.) How many printings of Erections were there? When was the first and when was the last? How many total copies are in circulation?
3.) Why did City Lights vie to separate Erections into 2 separate books? My thoughts were to either make more money from the collections, or that the book being so thick and in soft cover easily wore out quickly, separating from the spine after multiple reads. Any ideas?
4.) I've noticed that 1st printings of this book run for a pretty penny, and also noticed it's very difficult to find a copy of this in good shape on auction sites. I just purchased a copy of a 1974 printing of Erections on ebay in supposed "very good' shape (haven't received yet). If someone were looking for this book, not in a 1st edition, but for just a clean readable copy ("Very Good' condition), what would be an adequate price range? I've seen copies ranging from $75 to $1000.
5.) I read somewhere in a forum posting on this site (I think with regard to Buk's new City Lights collection "Notebooks') that Martin passed on a lot of Buk's grittier stuff, which in turn was gathered by City Lights. So where did the writings in "South of No North' come from (L.A Free Press columns?), and why did Martin want to include those on a BSP release, as many stories seem on par (gritty) as Erections?
6.) Any other 'Erections' facts, trivia, or anecdotes welcome. As a side note, I have turned on legions of people to our boy Hank. For a small handfull of special people I spend a little money and give as a gift what I call my "Bukowski 6-pack". (2 novels, 2 short story books, 2 poem books). A kind of multifaceted sampler to start a young impressionable person down the rewarding road of being lifelong Buk fanatic. My 6 pack is as follows (Novels: Factotum, Women, Short Stories: Tales of Ordinary Madness, The Most Beautiful Woman...Poems: Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame, Last Night of Earth Poems). What would be in your 6-pack?
I know that later printings of this book (after '78?) were distributed as the two separate collections (Tales and Most Beautiful).
Since I love this collection, and this forum is filled with experts, I was just wondering if anyone could shed light on my questions to satisfy my love of Buk lore and trivia. Thanks in advance.
1.) I have heard that these stories were complied from both some of his small press/magazine submissions and certain selections from his weekly newspaper column. Can anyone elaborate?
2.) How many printings of Erections were there? When was the first and when was the last? How many total copies are in circulation?
3.) Why did City Lights vie to separate Erections into 2 separate books? My thoughts were to either make more money from the collections, or that the book being so thick and in soft cover easily wore out quickly, separating from the spine after multiple reads. Any ideas?
4.) I've noticed that 1st printings of this book run for a pretty penny, and also noticed it's very difficult to find a copy of this in good shape on auction sites. I just purchased a copy of a 1974 printing of Erections on ebay in supposed "very good' shape (haven't received yet). If someone were looking for this book, not in a 1st edition, but for just a clean readable copy ("Very Good' condition), what would be an adequate price range? I've seen copies ranging from $75 to $1000.
5.) I read somewhere in a forum posting on this site (I think with regard to Buk's new City Lights collection "Notebooks') that Martin passed on a lot of Buk's grittier stuff, which in turn was gathered by City Lights. So where did the writings in "South of No North' come from (L.A Free Press columns?), and why did Martin want to include those on a BSP release, as many stories seem on par (gritty) as Erections?
6.) Any other 'Erections' facts, trivia, or anecdotes welcome. As a side note, I have turned on legions of people to our boy Hank. For a small handfull of special people I spend a little money and give as a gift what I call my "Bukowski 6-pack". (2 novels, 2 short story books, 2 poem books). A kind of multifaceted sampler to start a young impressionable person down the rewarding road of being lifelong Buk fanatic. My 6 pack is as follows (Novels: Factotum, Women, Short Stories: Tales of Ordinary Madness, The Most Beautiful Woman...Poems: Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame, Last Night of Earth Poems). What would be in your 6-pack?
Last edited by a moderator: