JOHNSON, B. S. Szerencsetlenek [The Unfortunates]
Budapest: Europa. 1972. The first Hungarian edition of what is probably Johnson’s best-known work, and a cornerstone of avant-garde British postwar literature. Though usually published in 27 individual segments—with only the first and last segments to be read in order, the remaining to be read in any which way the reader chooses—this Hungarian edition goes against that format, and appears to be the only edition ever to do so. Johnson’s Hungarian publisher, Europa, feared bankruptcy in publishing this requested way, but agreed to publish a small format paperback. Outraged, Johnson finally accepted the decision but was forced to write a new introduction instructing the reader how to read the book the way it was intended (by using small symbols at the top of each chapter), making it an eventual do-it-yourself cut-up novel. The volume is scarce, much more for it being an excellent association copy inscribed by Johnson in his customary green ink to June Tillinghast, wife of Tony Tillinghast, Johnson’s closest friend whose life and death inspired The Unfortunates itself. As good an association copy a Johnson collector might wish to find. A good copy, the original wrappers with some tears but all holding and clean internally.
Budapest: Europa. 1972. The first Hungarian edition of what is probably Johnson’s best-known work, and a cornerstone of avant-garde British postwar literature. Though usually published in 27 individual segments—with only the first and last segments to be read in order, the remaining to be read in any which way the reader chooses—this Hungarian edition goes against that format, and appears to be the only edition ever to do so. Johnson’s Hungarian publisher, Europa, feared bankruptcy in publishing this requested way, but agreed to publish a small format paperback. Outraged, Johnson finally accepted the decision but was forced to write a new introduction instructing the reader how to read the book the way it was intended (by using small symbols at the top of each chapter), making it an eventual do-it-yourself cut-up novel. The volume is scarce, much more for it being an excellent association copy inscribed by Johnson in his customary green ink to June Tillinghast, wife of Tony Tillinghast, Johnson’s closest friend whose life and death inspired The Unfortunates itself. As good an association copy a Johnson collector might wish to find. A good copy, the original wrappers with some tears but all holding and clean internally.
Budapest: Europa. 1972. The first Hungarian edition of what is probably Johnson’s best-known work, and a cornerstone of avant-garde British postwar literature. Though usually published in 27 individual segments—with only the first and last segments to be read in order, the remaining to be read in any which way the reader chooses—this Hungarian edition goes against that format, and appears to be the only edition ever to do so. Johnson’s Hungarian publisher, Europa, feared bankruptcy in publishing this requested way, but agreed to publish a small format paperback. Outraged, Johnson finally accepted the decision but was forced to write a new introduction instructing the reader how to read the book the way it was intended (by using small symbols at the top of each chapter), making it an eventual do-it-yourself cut-up novel. The volume is scarce, much more for it being an excellent association copy inscribed by Johnson in his customary green ink to June Tillinghast, wife of Tony Tillinghast, Johnson’s closest friend whose life and death inspired The Unfortunates itself. As good an association copy a Johnson collector might wish to find. A good copy, the original wrappers with some tears but all holding and clean internally.