Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Beat poet, ’Howl’ publisher, dies at 101
3 years, 10 months ago

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Beat poet, ’Howl’ publisher, dies at 101

Live Mint  

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the poet and bookstore owner whose publication of Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl in 1956 led to a landmark obscenity trial that spotlighted the Beat literary movement, has died. Ferlinghetti’s City Lights became the nation’s first all-paperback bookstore when it opened in San Francisco’s North Beach section in 1953. Ferlinghetti published Howl and Other Poems as part of City Lights’ fledgling Pocket Poet Series, printing 1,500 copies that sold for 75 cents each. “Once we opened the door,” Ferlinghetti said, “we couldn’t get it closed.” Martin sold Ferlinghetti his interest and moved back to New York two years later.

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History of this topic

Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Remembering the poet, publisher, and free-speech crusader behind the rise of the Beats.
55 years ago

Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Remembering the poet, publisher, and free-speech crusader behind the rise of the Beats.

Slate  

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who died on Monday at the age of 101, was one of the key figures in 20th century American culture. Five days into the marketing, on June 3, 1957, two undercover cops with the San Francisco Police Department’s Juvenile Bureau walked into the store, bought a copy, then arrested Ferlinghetti for publishing the book and the shop’s cashier …

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