February 1998

'Hymn to the Rebel Cafe' is Ed Sanders' first book with Black Sparrow Press - publisher of Bukowski, Fante, Fielding Dawson, Wanda Coleman - and his first major book of poetry since 'Thirsting for Peace in a Raging Century' which won an American Book Award in 1988. I once heard Sanders perform the title poem. I say perform because he doesn't just read, he reads and moves and plays the lyre and sings. With feeling! It was entertaining and inspirational. The whole next day I walked around singing parts I could remember - All Hail to the Rebel Cafe!