Literary Nonfiction. Poetry History & Criticism. Art. California Studies. This large-format book, which comes with a CD, is full of rich insight into San Franciscos's literary culture. Well-known as the host of KPFA's literary radio show "Cover to Cover," author Jack Foley has lived in the Bay Area for nearly four decades, and his historical, critical, visionary, and poetic observations are born of personal involvement as much as active research. The essays, talks, and interviews of O POWERFUL WESTERN STAR are introduced by Dana Gioia. "Foley is doing great things in articulating the poetic consciousness of San Francisco"—Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Author City: OAKLAND, CA USA

Jack Foley is a poet and critic living in the San Francisco Bay area. Foley's radio show, "Cover to Cover," is heard every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on Berkeley station KPFA and is available at the KPFA web site; his column, "Foley's Books," appears in the online magazine The Alsop Review. His poetry books include Letters/Lights—Words for Adelle; Gershwin; EXILES; ADRIFT (nominated for a Northern California Book Reviewers Award); Greatest Hits 1974-2003; Ash on an Old Man's Sleeve; and "A Disordered City," chapbook included in AHADADA READER 3. His books of criticism include the companion volumes, O POWERFUL WESTERN STAR: POETRY & ART IN CALIFORNIA (winner of the Artists Embassy Literary/Cultural Award 1998-2000) and FOLEY'S BOOKS: CALIFORNIA REBELS, BEATS, AND RADICALS as well as The Dancer and the Dance: A Book of Distinctions. He is well known for his poetry performances with his wife, Adelle, also a poet. In June 2010, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Berkeley Poetry Festival.