Morrison, Jim (2022) ‘A Guide to the Labyrinth’, UK signed limited edition by Genesis Publications

‘Real poetry doesn’t say anything, it just ticks off the possibilities. Opens all doors. You can walk through any one that suits you… And that’s why poetry appeals to me so much, because it’s so eternal.’ – Jim Morrison

As a poet, writer, singer-songwriter, filmmaker and frontman to The Doors, Jim Morrison’s body of work forms one of the twentieth century’s greatest artistic legacies. Before his passing, Morrison proposed how this work might be published on a leaf of paper entitled ‘Plan for Book’. Now, with the Estate of Jim Morrison, Genesis is honoured to fulfil his creative wish in an official three-book, multimedia boxed set, the ultimate celebration of Jim Morrison and his work: A GUIDE TO THE LABYRINTH.

‘Incredibly luxurious; it’s a lovely thing.’ – Classic Rock

Opening up the Morrison vaults, a large-format main volume presents more than 600 pages of poetry, lyrics, essays and ideas, both typeset and in Morrison’s own handwriting throughout. Illustrated with over a hundred rare photographs, drawings, and items of memorabilia, Morrison’s commentary narrates the collection, sourced from archival interviews. Exclusive, new text from his close friends and fellow musicians adds further insight. This signed and numbered, craftsman-bound edition is accompanied by spoken word recordings on a special 7″ vinyl pressing, plus two actual-size reproduction notebooks, never-before-seen from the Jim Morrison archives:

Jim Morrison’s personal notebook ‘Number 13’. Across 12 double-sided, spiral-bound pages, ‘The Celebration of the Lizard’ is handwritten here in its entirety, complete with Jim’s stage directions. A recording of this performance piece was later released on the Doors’ 1970 album, Absolutely Live

Jim Morrison’s personal notebook ‘Number 15’ contains 40 pages of verse from poems such as ‘The American Night’ and lines from iconic Doors songs such as ‘End of the Night’ and ‘Break on Through’.

In 1969, Rolling Stone magazine asked Jim Morrison, ‘Do you see yourself going more towards print?’ He answered: ‘That’s my greatest hope. That’s always been my dream.’

Genesis has been granted unlimited access to Jim Morrison’s archives, including 28 of his personal notebooks, to curate the definitive survey of Morrison’s work. Illustrated with rare and previously unpublished photographs, many from the family’s own collections, drawings and items of historical ephemera are also included. Jim Morrison’s work is presented in full in his own handwriting, as well as typeset. Jim used a variety of styles and sizes of blank-page notebooks to record his observations, compose poems, and sketch out plans for book and record projects. More than 350 original pages are displayed as close to actual size as possible, reproduced from the selection of notebooks, transcripts and annotated manuscripts found in the Morrison archive.

‘He was a poet, ahead of his time, and uniquely Jim.’ – Anne Morrison

Inspired by Jim Morrison’s own plan for a book and produced in collaboration with his Estate, this official multimedia boxed set is an unparalleled document of Morrison’s work, and one of the most authoritative limited editions ever to be published by Genesis.