This is the first critical study to come to grips with the work of Ferlinghetti, a man who eludes classification because he practices most forms of art, because he is both edu­cated (doctorate from the Sorbonne) and streetwise, and because for more than 25years he has followed the "expansive and dangerous tradition of the poet who boldly seeks Rimbaud's goal 'to change life' through his art."

Explaining his method, Smith notes that "By approaching Lawrence Ferlinghetti as the contemporary poet-prophet of engage­ment and wonder we can more truly un­derstand both his methods and his multi-achievement as: oral poet, poet of the streets, super realist, actualist of the public night­mare, political poet, poetry-and-jazz poet, bohemian poet, painter-poet, absurd expres­sionist dramatist, avant-garde novelist, anti-Art poet, and, finally, visionary poet of consciousness."