In 1960, Jon Edgar and Louise ''Gypsy Lou'' Webb
founded Loujon Press on Royal Street in New Orleans's
French Quarter. The small publishing house quickly
became a giant. Heralded by the ''Village Voice'' and
the ''New York Times'' as one of the best of its day,
the ''Outsider,'' the press's literary review, featured,
among others, Charles Bukowski, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence
Ferlinghetti, Robert Creeley, Denise Levertov, and
Walter Lowenfels. Loujon published books by Henry Miller
and two early poetry collections by Bukowski. ''Bohemian
New Orleans'' traces the development of this courageous
imprint and examines its place within the small press
revolution of the 1960s. Drawing on correspondence from
many who were published in the ''Outsider,'' back issues
of the ''Outsider,'' contemporary reviews, promotional
materials, and interviews, Jeff Weddle shows how the
press's mandarin insistence on production quality and
its eclectic editorial taste made its work nonpareil
among peers in the underground. Throughout, ''Bohemian
New Orleans'' reveals the messy, complex, and vagabond
spirit of a lost literary age. Jeff Weddle is assistant
professor of library and information studies at the
University of Alabama. His work has appeared in
''Publishing History'' and ''Beat Scene.'' Learn about
Director Wayne Ewing's documentary film ''The Outsiders
of New Orleans: Loujon Press'' and watch a trailer at
http: //www.loujonpress.com/ |
|