Also from 1969, but not quite the cutting edge masterpiece that was Slaughterhouse-Five, The Warlock of Love is Marc Bolan’s only book of poetry. It has, somewhat surprisingly given Bolan’s subsequent fame, never been reprinted. Bolan was twenty-two at time of publication and about to hit the the big time with the magnificent T.Rex. Things went downhill quickly after that and he died, aged thirty, on 16 September 1977. He won’t be remembered for his poetry, but this collection, which features a full-page photograph of Bolan in his wizard’s cloak on both front and back as well as twice on the dust jacket and has no blurb of any kind – as if his good looks were his only selling point – is still a personal favourite.
Marc Bolan
THE WARLOCK OF LOVE