The Metamorphosis of 741

Merrill, James, 1926-1995

A chapbook, set and printed by Claude Fredericks and David Beekin. Printed by Banyan Press in an edition of 440. This is the section of Mirabell: Books of Number when 741 reveals the hierarchy of the arts and the spiritual meaning of homosexuality, then turns into a peacock named Mirabell. Includes dialog with the spirit of W.H. Auden. The chapbook contains no author's name and was published in advance of Mirabell: Books of Number. Merrill credited Fredericks with convincing him years earlier that “The Book of Ephraim” needed to be written in verse, rather than prose, as Merrill had been theretofor attempting. 

Included here, along with a full scan of the chapbook, is an original envelope and inscriptions from two copies.

Merrill, James

James Merrill Papers (MSS083)

Banyan Press

Circa 1977

Claude Fredericks

David Beekin

Rare Books Catalogued Items

Exhibit Cases 7-8: Other World

James Merrill: Life and Art, pp. 580, 588

Book

12 jpegs. 600 ppi

English

Poetry

PS3525.E6645 M48 1977 4o

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