Welcome to a new series of Beat-related rambles! On today's episode, Benjamin J. Heal and Fu Ya-Chu journey to London to sit down with publisher and independent Beat scholar, James (Jim) Pennington. This conversation, recorded in January 2024, offers a fascinating look into Jim's unique career and his deep connection to the Beat literary movement.

Jim, a lifelong Londoner who sometimes longs for North Africa, has dedicated his entire professional life to the world of printing and publishing. His extensive career began with training at London's North-Western Polytechnic and the London College of Printing. He's held diverse roles, including print room and production manager for the British Safety Council (1971–75) and the anti-poverty charity War on Want (1975–79), before moving to the Lithosphere Printing Co-operative (1979–1991), among other positions.

In parallel with his professional career, Jim also ran Aloes Books, the influential small press he established with poets Allen Fisher and Dique Miller. Aloes Books became known for publishing key works by celebrated authors such as Kathy Acker, Thomas Pynchon, and William Burroughs, among many others. In 2014, Jim returned to small press publishing, focusing particularly on mimeo-stencil production techniques, a testament to his enduring passion for the craft.

In this chat, we'll explore Jim's early days in publishing, delve into the vibrant Brighton underground bookshop scene, and hear about his encounters with figures like Hoppy Hopkins. We'll also discuss his involvement with War on Want, his insights into Burroughs' Dead Fingers Talk, and, of course, the intriguing Mimeograph Revolution. Stay tuned for a rich and insightful conversation!

Next episode - the second part of the conversation (including the appearance of a mysterious Scientology suitcase) - is coming soon!

Note: There are a few photographs that relate to specific parts of the conversation - check the EBSN website podcast episode page to see more...

(A great, in-depth academic interview with Jim conducted by James Riley and Douglas Field can be accessed here)

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The 9th annual conference of the EBSN took place virtually 29-31 October 2021. This is one of a series of recordings from that event. More info, including participant bios, is on the website: https://ebsn.eu/ebsn-2021/

This panel, chaired by Peggy Pacini and moderated by Estíbaliz Encarnación-Pinedo, is titled "Art and the Beat Generation"

Panelists/papers:

Beatriz Cordero: “Abstract Expressionists and the Beat Generation”

Daria Baryshnikova: “Art Language Radically Revised”

Tanguy Harma: “Counterculture, Counterpower? Disengagement: The Art of the Beat Generation”

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