John Montague — The Great Cloak

Dublin, The Dolmen Press, 1978 . First edition. Paperback. A signed presentation copy of the first trade edition of this highly personal collection of verses from Irish poet John Montague. Inscribed by the author to the front free endpaper with 'for Lee & Edith; this dialectic of love, John Montague&apos.The first trade edition of this work.A collection of semi-autobiographical poems about 'a married man who seeks his comfort elsewhere [..] but discovers libertinism does not relieve his solitude&apos.With extensive former owner's inscriptions and annotations throughout, to the majority of the leaves.These inscriptions appear to be those of a friend or loved one of the author, as some include personal insight into the meaning behind his poems, such as identifying one poem as being '(for Evelyn? Eve)', referring to the author's second wife, Evelyn Robinson, whom he married in the 1970s.The annotator says to the final leaf that 'these poems, some of them individually striking and beautiful, take their chief interest in the interaction relating them to each&apos. In the publisher's original paper wraps. Externally, bright, with light spotting to wrap perimeters. Internally, firmly bound. Inscribed to title page. Pages bright. Extensive ink annotations throughout, to the majority of leaves. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good .