Bars and Shadows : The Prison Poems
New York: The Leonard Press, 1922. First edition. Hardcover octavo (5-3/4 x 7-1/2 inches) in ridged cream paper boards with decoratively-framed green cover titles in illustrated dust jacket, plain brown endpapers, 48 pp.
Ralph Hosea Chaplin (1887 - 1961) was accused of taking part in a conspiracy with intent to obstruct the prosecution of World War I. Along with 100 of his fellow wobblies, he was tried and convicted under the Espionage Act of 1917, in Cook County and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He was a steadfast labor agitator and organizer, poet--though, he didn't consider himself part of its culture---and songwriter.
All these poems were written in either the Cook County Jail while Chaplin was awaiting trial or during the first four years of his sentence in Leavenworth Prison, where they first appeared in the prison newspaper.
Introduction by Scott Nearing (1883 - 1983), whose holographic signature is on front free endpaper, dated June 21, 1922. Beneath is a gift inscription, "Presented by O.M.S. Oct 1926 E.F.S." with signature of presented, "E.F. Strickland Benton Harbor, Mich.[igan]", on title page.
Edward F. Strickland was a Socialist who ran for U.S. Representative from Michigan's 4th District in 1902 & 1934. He was also a candidate for circuit judge in Michigan 2nd Circuit in 1911 and a candidate for Michigan state senate 7th District in 1936. Very good book in good dust jacket, spine titles written in black ink, wear to edges with chipping and light displacement to spine ends. Item #3766
Price: $250.00