University of Nevada Press

On a San Francisco street corner in 1953, aspiring painter and poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti shook hands with sociology instructor and magazine editor Peter Martin. Their handshake sealed Ferlinghetti’s five-hundred-dollar investment in a small retail space above a North Beach flower shop that would become City Lights Bookstore and Press. Since the mid-twentieth century, the bookstore and its press have continued to shape the way literature is produced and consumed. As the first-ever all-paperback bookstore in the nation, sponsor of the Beat Movement and the San Francisco Renaissance, home of the Pocket Poets series, torchbearer for free speech movements, and promoter of global comparative literature and human rights, City Lights has continuously been at the avant-garde of literary experimentation and cultural revolution. City Lights: Lawrence Ferlinghetti and the Biography of a Bookstore is the seminal story of the bookstore, its press, and the inimitable Ferlinghetti.

Honoring 25 Years of Gunning for Ho: This special edition contains a new preface by the author, revisiting the stories of Vietnam and offering fresh insights and reflections. In this rich and varied collection of short stories (six stories & one novella), former Green Beret H. Lee Barnes deals with the war itself and with its aftermath, but his stories focus more on the human aspects of men in armed conflict and families at home than on the violent drama or political aspects of that war.

In A Grain of Sand in Lambeth, poetry becomes a lens through which to explore the complex, visionary world of William Blake. Drawing on Blake’ s own rejection of tradition and his relentless quest to challenge the boundaries of art, Geoffrey Babbitt confronts the tensions between genius and convention, life and death, light and dark. Each poem in this collection inhabits a moment of Blake's life, offering a vivid glimpse into his unique perspective - a perspective that rejected the normative for the transformative power of imagination. From his visionary watercolors to his provocative views on oil painting, these poems draw readers into Blake's world, where reality and the unseen converge in prismatic intensity. A Grain of Sand in Lambeth is an invitation to experience the world through Blake's eyes - a world where imagination reigns supreme and art is a living force.

In the summer of 1942, Eve Halverson assumes her dead sister's identity and leaves behind her small-town life in Washington for the promise of something new in San Pedro, California. Determined to support the war effort, she takes a job at a boot factory, stepping into an unfamiliar world of sweat, steel, and camaraderie. Among the women on the factory floor, she finds resilience, laughter, and unexpected friendships that begin to reshape her understanding of the world - and herself. But it's the quiet, captivating dockworker and blues singer Hard Times (H.T.) who truly upends her life. As Eve grows closer to H.T., she finds herself drawn into his world, one filled with music, longing, and the ever-present shadows of prejudice. Their connection forces Eve to confront realities she'd never imagined, challenging the boundaries of her own perceptions and the risks of crossing societal lines. When Eve becomes a witness to a violent crime at a blues club, her life takes a dangerous turn. As she navigates the escalating threats, she leans on the strength of her newfound friends and the fragile, complex bond she shares with H.T. Set against the vibrant yet turbulent backdrop of World War II-era California, Emerald City Blues is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. It explores the complexities of love, the power of friendship, and the courage it takes to forge your own path in an uncertain world. Eve's journey is one of discovery - not just of the world beyond her hometown, but of the resilience and strength she never knew she possessed.

Rebels and Outliers: Real Stories of the American West shines a spotlight on the unforgettable characters that author and journalist John M. Glionna has encountered during his more than 30 years crisscrossing the western United States for some of the nation’s top newspapers. With sharp insights, Glionna captures the essence of the modern West through the lives of its most intriguing, unconventional inhabitants. From the struggles of a Navajo Nation police officer grappling with the tension of enforcing laws among her own people to the quirks of a pig farmer who feeds his livestock with leftovers from Las Vegas’s extravagant buffets, Glionna fearlessly delves into topics that reveal the complexities of life on the fringes. Each showcases Glionna’s remarkable talent for uncovering the universal truths that connect us all. This vibrant collection invites readers to journey through the rugged landscapes and tight-knit communities that define the American West. Along the way, you’ll meet individuals whose grit, resilience, and pioneering spirit embody the heart of this region’s legacy. A captivating follow-up to Glionna’s 2022 book, Outback Nevada: Real Stories of the Silver State, Rebels and Outliers is a testament to the untamed, enduring character of the people who call the West home.