"It has taken more that twenty-five years for this great poet's underground life to see the light of day in this rich, thorough, compelling biography. Patchen, our most unfortu�nate, forgotten, unique man of American letters and of' passionate mercy' created his own wonder world of words, kingdoms and creatures to save himself�and us all: HURRAH FOR ANYTHING and HALLELUJAH ANYWAYI" -- Norbert Blei