Twenty seven essays written over a period of forty years by the man one of his publishers called "an American cultural movement." A brilliant, self-taught scholar in fields as diverse as Buddhism and modern French poetry, Rexroth was a poet, philosopher, translator, promoter of poets, conscientious objector, political activist, cultural critic, professional curmudgeon, and teacher. Topics of essays include: poet in society, poetry and DH Lawrence, Simon Weil, Hasidism of Martin Buber; Gnoticism, Lafcadio Hearn and Buddhism.