The Poetry and Prose Writing of Frederick Emanuel Rau
[New Orleans]: Geo. Muller, 1908. 73pp. 12mo. Original brown printed wrappers. Light wear and chipping to edges of covers. Internally clean. Very good. Item #2182
A book of verse by wide-ranging poet Frederick Emanuel Rau of New Orleans. Rau clearly considers himself an observer of the people, and he devotes these pages to poems about different types of folks -- "The Dude," "The Tramp," "The Mayor," "The Old Maid," "The Lawyer," and perhaps best of all, "The Department Store Floor Walker." On page 25 there appears the following statement: "According to the advice of My Attorneys at Washington, D.C. The Tenderloin Poem must be omitted. If not; it would render the Entire Book, Liable to Seizure. In it's [sic] place, I have substituted the following Poem." Much to our delight, there follows a five-page list poem entitled "What a Gentleman's Wearing Apparel, Should Comprise." The poem includes everything from the necessary footwear to hats and undergarments, as well a wide variety of suits, ending with the need for proper trunks and suitcases in which to keep such garments while traveling. He also has a poem about fractions. We locate two institutional copies in OCLC, at Tulane University and the University of Texas at Austin. Rare and absurdly entertaining.
Price: $450.00