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Though only briefly mentioning Ferlinghetti's own poetry, the article relates his strong ties with Beat writers William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg. Preferring prose to poetry, I have read everything I could find published by the first two authors including some truly weird manuscripts compiled and kept alive at City Lights such as this excerpt from this Burroughs/Kerouac link:Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s life was full of lessons about what makes American culture great: the courage to stand against censorship, a profound love of language and the creation of art that expresses unspoken desires and dissatisfaction — and creates the possibility of something new.
If memory serves, I read a mimeographed version of "And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks" at City Lights Bookstore in the 1990's.And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks is a collaborative novel written by both Jack Kerouac and Burroughs. They wrote alternating chapters. It’s a crime novel, and was finished in 1945 but not published until 2008.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti was a prolific poet, author, and publisher. He is best known for his role in the Beat poetry movement and his co-founding of the City Lights Bookstore and publishing house. He also published and championed the works of other Beat poets, such as Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.
Ferlinghetti's work, particularly his poetry, was known for its political and social commentary. He challenged traditional forms and styles of poetry and helped to pave the way for the free-form and experimental poetry of the 1960s and beyond. His work also brought attention to the Beat movement and its influence on American literature.
Ferlinghetti received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Robert Frost Memorial Medal, the Los Angeles Times Book Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle. He was also named San Francisco's first Poet Laureate in 1998.
Ferlinghetti was a vocal advocate for social and political change, and his activism often appeared in his writing. He used his platform as a poet to address issues such as war, censorship, and environmentalism. His work was often considered controversial and provocative for its time.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti's contributions to literature and the Beat movement have left a lasting impact on the literary world. His work continues to be read and studied by scholars and readers alike, and his influence can be seen in the work of contemporary poets. He also helped to establish San Francisco as a center for counterculture and artistic expression, leaving a lasting legacy on the city and its cultural identity.