Collection of Rare Jim Morrison Writings to Arrive This Summer

2021-03-06

Cover art for Jim Morrison, "The Collected Works of Jim Morrison: Poetry, Journals, Transcripts and Lyrics."

Jim Morrison, “The Collected Works of Jim Morrison: Poetry, Journals, Transcripts and Lyrics,” via HarperCollins – Story by Charles Ken

A new book featuring the gathered works of The Doors’ Jim Morrison will arrive in June

Roughly a month before the upcoming 50th anniversary of Jim Morrison’s passing, a new book of The Doors vocalist’s writings will be released to the world.

The almost 600-page book, called “The Collected Works of Jim Morrison: Poetry, Journals, Transcripts and Lyrics,” will hit stores on June 8 via HarperCollins. The book was made in conjunction with his estate and highlights the majority of the frontman’s previously published work, including his posthumous “Wilderness” and “The American Night.”

Of deep interest are written pieces from Morrison’s most difficult era, including newly discovered notebooks with  writings from his 1970 Miami trial, in which he was tried on obscenity and profanity charges. The collection will also feature what is thought to be his final collection of writings from Paris in 1971, shortly before his passing at age 27.

Roughly half of the book features previously unpublished writing, making this one of the most unique books about Morrison to arrive in recent years. Moreover, “The Collected Works of Jim Morrison” will offer 160 drawings and photos, plus the treatment for Morrison’s storied film project “The Hitchhiker,” in which he was to portray a hitchhiker that was serial killer. While Morrison passed away before “The Hitchhiker” was actualized, part of it were arranged for “HWY: An American Pastoral,” a 1970 short movie starring Morrison stars as a murderous drifter.

Longtime Doors fan and novelist Tom Robbins penned the book’s foreword, and Morrison’s sister, Anne Morrison Chewning, wrote the prologue.

“The Collected Works of Jim Morrison: Poetry, Journals, Transcripts and Lyrics” will also be available as an audio edition. The audio version will feature previously unreleased audio of Morrison’s final poetry recording session, which happened a Los Angeles studio on December 8, 1970, his 27th birthday.

“The Collected Works of Jim Morrison” is available for pre-order now via HarperCollins.com.

Charles Ken
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