A Beginning on the Short Story [Notes].

Yonkers, New York: The Alicat Bookshop Press,, 1950. First edition, sole printing, presentation copy inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Bob Wetterau, best luck from his old friend, William Carlos Williams, 11/14/50". Wetterau was the manager of the Flax book and art shop in Westwood Village, Los Angeles. In his autobiography, Williams recalls Wetterau's hosting skills: "That was a good party at Flax. Anais Nin was there and Man Ray and his wife, Don Paquette, Charlotte, Eyvind Earle. Later Bob invited us to his house for supper - volaille à la Bob with Armagnac poured over it and lighted at the table" (p. 387). Williams left Los Angeles with abiding memories of "The sparrows at night in the park - Bob and his brothers, George and Alec and their wives - tequila at five cents a glass" (p. 389). This book "is the substance of an address delivered in the fall of 1950 to students of the University of Washington in Seattle" (p. ii). Octavo. Original wire-stitched textured beige wrappers printed in red and blue, yellow endpapers, some leaves uncut. Title page printed in red and black. Wrappers toned, extremities a touch rubbed; a very good copy indeed. Wallace A33. William Carlos Williams, The Autobiography, 1951.