The prophetic poem that launched a generation when it was first published in 1965 is here presented in a commemorative hardcover editionThe landmark original publication of Allen Ginsbergamprsquos HOWL ampamp Other PoemsHOWL ampamp Other Poems the prophetic book that launched the Beat Generation was published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti at City Lights Books in 1956. Considered the single most influential work of postWWII United States poetry the City Lights edition of HOWL has remained in print for more than 60 years with well over 1000000 copies in print.ampnbspA strident critique of middleclass complacency consumerism and capitalist militarism HOWL also celebrates the pleasures and freedoms of the physical world including a tribute to homosexual love. ampnbspIn addition to ampldquoHowlamprdquo poems in the book include ampldquoA Supermarket in Californiaamprdquo ampldquoSunflower Sutraamprdquo ampldquoAmericaamprdquo ampldquoIn the Baggage Room at Greyhoundamprdquo ampldquoTranscription of Organ Musicamprdquo and ampldquoWild Orphanamprdquo among others.ampnbspA History of HOWLCity Lights founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti first heard Allen Ginsberg read ampldquoHowlamprdquo at the Six Gallery event in San Francisco 1955 which featured writers Philip Lamantia Gary Snyder Philip Whalen and Michael McClure introduced by poet Kenneth Rexroth. Jack Kerouac was present but did not read encouraging and cheering the other poets on. Ferlinghetti was so impressed by Ginsbergamprsquos performance he immediately telegrammed him referencing Ralph Waldo Emersonamprsquos response to Walt Whitmanamprsquos Leaves of Grass ampldquoI greet you at the beginning of a great career. When do I get the manuscriptamprdquoampnbspWhen the first edition of HOWL arrived from its British printers it was seized almost immediately by U.S. Customs and shortly thereafter the San Francisco police arrested its publisher and editor Lawrence Ferlinghetti together with the City Lights Bookstore manager Shigeyo