Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1973. The hardcover issue of her highly praised first collection of poems. Signed by the author, at length: "The original title of the ms. Cruelty was Wheel in a Ditch, which symbolized the spirit of man (the circle or wheel from Ezekiel) trapped, but Houghton Mifflin thought it was too prosey so they called Galway & said Mr. Kinnell what do you think. After they read him the table of contents he suggested Cruelty. Unfortunately the reviewers always damned the book because of that, but the good ones were more numerous than the bad. Best wishes, Ai. Jan. 29, 1992. [Drawing of a heart with two arrows.] This heart has two arrows because love pierces." Corner crease to front flyleaf, else fine in a fine dust jacket with a dust jacket blurb by Galway Kinnell. An important first book with a lengthy and revealing inscription by this recently deceased poet who won the 1999 National Book Award for her collection Vice. [#914606] SOLD
All books are first printings of first editions or first American editions unless otherwise noted.