The Unfortunates signed association copy B.S. Johnson first edition 1969
JOHNSON, B.S. – The Unfortunates (signed association copy)
*BBC Producer Lorna Pegram’s copy – with B.S. Johnson’s inscription to her on the inside front cover of the box*
London: Panther Books Ltd in association with Secker & Warburg Ltd (1969)
Cardboard clam box measuring 19x22x2cms, housing 27 unbound sections, but missing the purple band that originally held them together; loosely inserted is an original promotional postcard written on the reverse by B.S. Johnson, the recipient’s name being Lorna Pegram; the inside lid of the box has copyright information and on the right hand side a printed newspaper clipping as called for; there are marks and a moderate stain to the upper lid edge, ear to the joints of the box; there is the odd foxing mark, the ‘first’ chapter has a small grease stain to the centre of the title page, overall very good.
B.S. Johnson has inscribed, signed and dated his message to BBC producer Lorna Pegram to the inside lid of the box. He has written: “For Lorna, not meant for giving me my first chance to direct for TV, and for her patience in waiting so long for this to be finished! With respect and best wishes, Bryan, B.S. Johnson 1/1/69”
Arguably the author’s best-known works, being his infamous novel within a box, where the reader could shuffle the chapters in any way they saw fit, except the ones labelled first and last, meant to bookend the experiment. The novel follows a sports journalist, sent to a midland’s town on assignment, only to find himself confronted by ghosts from his past when he disembarks at the railway station. The narrator has recollections of a close friend, Tony, who had died at a young age from Cancer and of a former lover who spurned him. There are mathematically a staggering number of different ways this book can be read and was Johnson’s attempt to mimic the random way that our memories work. The start is fixed: man goes to match, with memories of loss and rejection. But after that it’s a free for all, as the reader attempts to piece together memories that have already started to fade, as the narrator, in a convoluted manner makes his way to the ground.
Johnson had already drafted the bones of his novel in early 1968 and worked through his concept when he was approached by Lorna Pegram to appear on the BBC series ‘Release’. Johnson was keen to do so and discuss his creation. So much so that he appeared on the show in 1968, before his novel was published. The issue the publisher had was about executing his ideas into reality. It wasn’t a book and was proving problematic to produce. Johnson, with Pegram’s help, held up a ‘mock up’ copy of the box, that looked nothing like the finished product. They had winged it.
It is telling that the inscription from Johnson to Pegram in this box, is dated on the first day of 1969. The author would have most likely only just received copies and thought, in the first instance to send her a copy. Publication was, as stated on the postcard, not until 20 February 1969.