REAVEY, George. In Memoriam: J.F.K.

Limited edition, 1964. Slim quarto bifolium, printed on cream wove paper, single folded sheet (c. 210 × 135 mm). Title to front: “In Memoriam: J.F.K.”; poem printed internally, signed in type George Reavey. Rear with imprint: “Copyright © 1964 by George Reavey. One thousand copies have been printed, of which fifty have been numbered and signed by the author.” Very good. Light handling creases from folding, occasional spotting and a few small stains, as visible; paper evenly toned. A well-preserved example of a fragile and transient publication.

A poignant commemorative poem issued shortly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in November 1963. Reavey’s text captures the shock and tragedy of the event in heightened lyrical form, invoking imagery of ritual, history, and sudden loss—“at the double crack of a gun / under a merciless sun.” Such ephemeral poetic tributes, often privately printed in small editions, are increasingly scarce.

Edition limited to 1,000 copies.

George Reavey (1907–1976) was an Irish poet, translator, and influential literary figure closely associated with the European avant-garde. Born in County Down, he spent much of his life in continental Europe, particularly Paris, where he became deeply involved in modernist and surrealist circles during the 1930s.

Reavey is perhaps best known for his role in the literary magazine transition, edited by Eugene Jolas. Through this platform, he helped introduce and promote experimental writers, including Samuel Beckett, whose early work he supported and translated. Reavey’s own poetry, written in both English and French, reflects surrealist influences—marked by dreamlike imagery, fragmentation, and a fascination with the subconscious.

As a translator, Reavey played a crucial role in bringing major European writers to English-speaking audiences. His translations of Russian and French authors were widely respected for their sensitivity and literary quality, helping to bridge linguistic and cultural divides.

Though never a widely celebrated figure in his lifetime, Reavey’s importance lies in his position as a cultural intermediary—linking Irish literary tradition with the broader currents of European modernism. Today, he is increasingly recognised as a significant, if understated, contributor to twentieth-century literary culture.

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