JOHNSON, B.S. The Unfortunates. London: Panther Books Ltd. 1969.
4to. 27 gatherings loosely housed in wraparound and original fall-down-back box with contents temporarily held together internally by a lilac removable wrapper; printed 'newspaper clipping' to rear, and reader instructions to inside front cover; light rubbing to upper corners and staining to top of spine; sunning to spine of box, and a small tear to lower edge; removable wrapper lightly stained and vaguely rubbed; otherwise pages themselves clean and unmarked; very good.
First edition, in association with Secker & Warburg.
An intriguing book-in-a-box which explores the inner workings of a troubled mind in an unorthodox way. Johnson wrote the book as a response to his friend, the academic Tony Tillinghast's, death- on the back of a promise to him to "get it all down, mate." With a format similar to William S. Burroughs' infamous 'cut-up' method, and reminiscent of Samuel Beckett's style and prose, the innovative technique permits Johnson to echo the random thought processes of his protagonist as he struggles to come to terms with the death of his friend and the loss of a former lover, with sections ranging in length from a single paragraph to 12 pages. As is specified in the reader's abstract 'manual', 'twenty-five sections are intended to be read in random order', in any scheme or sequence.
The Unfortunates was not at all Johnson's first attempt at the experimental novel, infact he was a fervent innovator. In 1964, Albert Angelo had achieved fame for having holes cut through through the pages of the book, revealing a crucial plot spoiler.
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