About the Author

Larry Smith is a poet, novelist, critic, and biographer. His literary biographies include Kenneth Patchen (Twayne Series, G.K. Hall, 1978) and Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Poet-at-Large (Southern Illinois University Press, 1983). His also wrote and co-produced with Tom Koba two video docu-dramas Kenneth Patchen: Poet of Engagement and James Wright's Ohio. He has edited books of Appalachian and working-class writing for Bottom Dog Press. Together with his wife Ann and poet Phil Metres he edited the national anthology Come Together: Imagine Peace for Bottom Dog Press. Smith is a professor emeritus of English and Humanities at Firelands College of Bowling Green State University and holds a doctorate from Kent State University. In 1980-1981 he held a Fullbright lectureship in Sicily where he taught a course on American Romanticism and the Beat Movement. His recent books include the novels The Long River Home and The Free Farm, and two books of poetry, A River Remains and Each Moment All. As a native of the industrial Ohio River Valley he shares a working-class background with author Kenneth Patchen. He and wife Ann live along the shores of Lake Erie in Huron, Ohio.

Reviews

"In my eyes Kenneth Patchen is now and will remain one of the outstanding figures in American letters. He represents all that a poet should represent, whether expressing himself in verse, in prose, in paint, or in action. By his example he has given courage, direction, and inspiration to more poets than anyone I know of on this continent Patchen stands out like a shining warrior, a herald of peace and truth, endowed with invincible heart and integrity. No one can read him without being affected�and influenced in his own life and work. It is not only the youth who are indebted to him but all of us, unto the last and most fanatically ardent defender of the Word." -- Henry Miller ...... "It has taken more that twenty-five years for this great poet's underground life to see the light of day in this rich, thorough, compelling biography. Patchen, our most unfortu�nate, forgotten, unique man of American letters and of' passionate mercy' created his own wonder world of words, kingdoms and creatures to save himself�and us all: HURRAH FOR ANYTHING and HALLELUJAH ANYWAYI" -- Norbert Blei