Description
Philip Lamantia occupies a singular place in American poetry — simultaneously part Beat mystic, surrealist visionary, Catholic ecstatic, and underground San Francisco literary figure. Discovered and championed while still a teenager by André Breton and the Surrealists, Lamantia brought European surrealism directly into postwar American poetry and later became closely associated with the San Francisco Renaissance and Beat circles surrounding Kenneth Rexroth, Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. His readings at the legendary Six Gallery events placed him near the center of one of the most important literary scenes of the twentieth century, though his work always remained stranger, more mystical, and more inward than many of his contemporaries.
Ekstasis is one of the key early Lamantia books and a beautiful example of late-1950s San Francisco small-press printing. Produced by Dave Haselwood’s Auerhahn Press — one of the essential Beat-era presses alongside White Rabbit and City Lights — the book combines fine letterpress production with Lamantia’s visionary poetry and Robert LaVigne’s elegant minimalist design. The title itself refers to ecstatic transcendence, perfectly matching Lamantia’s deeply spiritual, hallucinatory poetic voice. The small handwritten note from a previous owner wondering whether anyone could actually “figure it out” feels oddly perfect for Lamantia — a reminder that his poetry has always inspired both fascination and bewilderment in equal measure.
An important Beat and San Francisco Renaissance poetry title from one of the movement’s most genuinely original voices.
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