Idiot’s Delight.

HUNTER, Robert.

Item Number: 125937

New York & Madras: Hanuman Books, 1992.

First edition of Hunter’s iconic poetry collection. 16mo, original stiff paper wrappers. Signed by the poet/lyricist Robert Hunter on the half-title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket photograph by Jessica Leopard. Rare.

American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet Robert Hunter is was best known for his work with the Grateful Dead. He composed the lyrics to a number of the band's signature pieces, including "Dark Star", "Ripple", "Truckin'", "China Cat Sunflower", and "Terrapin Station". Hunter was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Grateful Dead in 1994, and is the only non-performer to be inducted as a member of a band. According to the New York Times, Hunter's lyrics "helped define the Grateful Dead as a counterculture touchstone". Idiot's delight is the 47th publication of Hanuman books, an Indian/American publishing collaboration which specialized in counter-cultural and avant-garde authors of the late 20th century. The books were handmade in Madras, India, and distributed in the United States through an office in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City.