Commentary: City Lights Turns 50

Poet Codrescu Pays Tribute to Legendary Book Store

by Andrei Codrescu

Listen Now:

Real Media|Windows Media Explain these links

Listen: Listen to Lawrence Ferlinghetti speak about the City Lights bookstore.

Real Media|Windows

View Gallery

City Lights Archive

Lawrence Ferlinghetti owns cultural icon City Lights Books, which turns 50 on June 8.

All Things Considered, June 6, 2003 · City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, a focal point of American alternative culture, marks its 50th anniversary on June 8. City Lights was founded in 1953 by Beat movement icon Lawrence Ferlinghetti, now Poet Laureate of San Francisco, and Peter D. Martin. The store's regulars included Jack Kerouac, author of the novel On the Road, and poet Allen Ginsberg.

City Lights helped publish Ginsberg's landmark 1956 poem "Howl," then successfully defended the controversial work in court, establishing new guidelines regarding freedom of speech.

For All Things Considered, NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu reads a poem in honor of City Lights -- and in homage to Ferlinghetti's vision and relentless pursuit of a new cultural awakening.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)