New Directions Paperback, s.d. (probably around 1964, first edition was 1955). 140 pages. Near fine clean and tight copy with only some discoloration to edges

Stated second paperbound printing

Kenneth Charles Marion Rexroth (1905–1982), American poet, translator, and critical essayist and regarded as a central figure in the San Francisco Renaissance. – Largely self-educated, Rexroth learned several languages and translated poems from Chinese, French, Spanish, and Japanese. With Rexroth acting as master of ceremonies, Allen Ginsberg, Philip Lamantia, Michael McClure, Gary Snyder, and Philip Whalen performed at the famous Six Gallery reading on October 7, 1955. Rexroth later testified as a defense witness at Ferlinghetti’s obscenity trial for publishing “Howl”. Rexroth had previously sent Ginsberg (new in the Bay Area) to meet Snyder, and was thus responsible for their friendship. Lawrence Ferlinghetti named Rexroth as one of his own mentors. Rexroth was eventually critical of the Beat movement. Years after the Six Gallery reading, Time referred to him as “Father of the Beats. Rexroth ostensibly appears in Jack Kerouac’s novel The Dharma Bums as Reinhold Cacoethes.