Ep. 84 The fight to publish Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’

“I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness.”


So begins Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem “Howl.” You might be
familiar with Allen Ginsberg. You might be familiar with the
poem. But chances are you don’t know about the efforts in San
Francisco in 1957 to censor the poem.


On today’s episode of So to Speak, we discuss those efforts with
distinguished First Amendment scholar and recurring So to Speak
guest Ronald K.L. Collins. He is the co-author, with David M.
Skover, of the new book, “The People v. Ferlinghetti: The Fight
to Publish Allen Ginsberg’s HOWL,” which recounts the story
behind the publication of “Howl” and the courageous fight against
its censorship.


Show notes:


Video of this podcast conversation

“Howl” by Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg reads “Howl,” (Big Table Chicago Reading,
1959)

“The People v. Ferlinghetti: The Fight to Publish Allen
Ginsberg’s HOWL”

Ronald K.L. Collins’ First Amendment News



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