I have finally completed my Jim Wayne Miller collection with some help from Porter House Books of Atlanta GA. The final missing chapbook is entitled “The Wisdom of Folk Metaphor; The Brier Conducts a Laboratory Experiment” published on the Seven Buffalos Press in Big Timber Montana in 1988. Here’s a brief list: Copperhead Cane, 1st Edition Inscribed. Copperhead Cane limited edition number 50/50. The Mountains Have Come Closer, inscribed first edition. Brier His Book inscribed first edition. Dialogue with a Dead Man inscribed first edition. Dialogue with a Dead Man inscribed reprint edition. Vein of Words first edition signed. Nostalgia for 70 inscribed first edition. Round and Round with Kahlil Gibran. The Figure of Fulfillment (translation of Emil Lerperger) inscribed first edition. Sideswipes first edition. The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same signed first edition. His First Best Country Gnomon Chapbook Series signed first edition. Just First Best Country Gnomon Chapbook Series limited signed first edition. The Wisdom of Folk Metaphor first edition. Newfound signed first edition. His First Best Country signed first edition. Next up, I guess I’ll hunt Robert Morgan. “The Voice in the Crosshairs” and a hardback copy of “Zirconia Poems” are next on my radar. Maybe George Scarborough first? . . . . . . . #jimwaynemiller #appalachianpoetry #gnomonpress #copperheadcane #themountainshavecomecloser #brierhisbook #thefigureoffulfillment #newfound #hisfirstbestcountry #dialoguewithadeadman #nostalgiafor70 #veinofwords #sideswipes #themorethingschangethemoretheystaythesame #roundandroundwithkahlilgibran #emillerperger #southernpoetry #westernkentuckyuniversity #kentucky #northcarolina #bookstagram #firsteditionbooks #bookcollecting #finebooks #rarebooks https://www.instagram.com/p/BzgxF-XnGrK/?igshid=2whubs1yq5so

I have been struck by the simple power of Jim Wayne Miller's poetry. Another great read for one of my classes, his seemingly simple lines so often cover over a depth of questions. One question that he seems to ask is this: when is someone a native or local to the land? How many (or few) generations does someone have to live in a place before they become a part of the landscape, and are integral to the location's identity? I enjoyed him enough to hunt some more of his writing. Here is a first edition, first printing of his novella 'His First, Best Country,' unopened, singed and dated. I haven't read this so far, but looking forward to summer reading soon. Fine/Fine condition. . . . . #jimwaynemiller #hisfirstbestcountry #signed #firstedition #firstprinting #modernfirsts #bookstagram #bookcover #bookporn #bookstagram #rarebooks #shelfie #appalachianlit #americanlit #northcarolina #nc #southernlit #southern #bookcollector #bookcollection #bibliophile

I passed my Comprehensive Exams! A great email to read and a feeling of relief over the past few days. My thesis is called “North of Ourselves: Identity and Place in Jim Wayne Miller’s Poetry.” In tribute, here is the chapbook edition of ‘His First, Best Country,’ followed by the 1/26 hardback edition of the chapbook (handbound by Joan Davis) and lettered “L,” and the complete novel, signed and dated by Jim Wayne Miller. His work has reshaped literature for me, and his poems essentially opened me up to the genre. Thank you to all my professors, and thank you to Jim Wayne. It is strange to feel as though I know him so intimately yet I have never met him. The MA is done! . . . . . . . . . #jimwaynemiller #hisfirstbestcountry #rarebooks #firstedition #bookcollection #bookcollecting #bookcollection #bibliophile #bookporn #bookhunting #bookstagram #modernfirsts #modernfirsteditions #finebooks #signedbooks #shelfie #southernliterature #southernlit #tennessee #appalachianlit #appalachianliterature #kentucky #northcarolina #virginia #westvirginia https://www.instagram.com/p/BwD0HOZAQi8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lt70cv2qipn0