THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID. LEFT HANDED POEMS with AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS)
[Toronto]: Anansi, 1970. First Edition. Softcover. Wraps issue published simultaneously with the hardcover issue, this being the first state without the award statement. A superb Association Copy INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the author to film director Arthur Penn: "who has his own painful/beautiful [crossed out] version/Michael Ondaatje/Feb. 71." Laid in is a full-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) by Ondaatje to Penn also dated Feb. 1971. In part: "One of the first movies I remember as a teenager was Left Handed Gun. Tho I didn't then know who directed, acted, etc. It was only a long time later when watching it and the moon shooting scene came up that I found out it was your work + I realized it had been for some time part of my blood. So at some moments my version of Billy's story is made up of what I remember of your version-- I have two tales of Charlie's death, one yours...." About Fine. Item #019154
Arthur Penn's first feature film was THE LEFT HANDED GUN, starring Paul Newman in a role meant for James Dean. Penn is better known for his later work: BONNIE AND CLYDE, THE MIRACLE WORKER, ALICE'S RESTAURANT, and others.
Price: $5,000.00