Ironically, the enormous publicity generated by the trial made Ginsburg the best known of the Beat poets, and Howl one of the best-selling books of American verse ever published. Ferlinghetti's own poetry is simple and muscular, and even though less widely known than Ginsburg's, it has remained popular for five decades. He is still active as a poet and as the proprietor of City Lights Bookstore, which still stands in its original location. Ferlinghetti is one of the most important figures in a period of American arts that today seems like a golden age. 1205 Soquel Ave, on May 24, sponsored by the UCSC Friends of the Library.
Admission is free and open to the public.