Chelsea Hotel by Joe Ambrose

[lightning]

Anyone interested in a no-holds-barred ,insider's portrait of the Chelsea Hotel and its illustrious and/or notorious inhabitants, should look into this book. I think it's destined to become a classic of beat literature and a historical document. I was surprised and flattered that Joe reprinted the piece Jarkko published in the Leonard Cohen Files which I wrote several years ago, mild by comparison to some of the other essays, less literary, less tough, less intimidatingly hip.
Joe Ambrose, who wrote most of the book, cleverly interspersing it with other people's essay's and interviews, is an excellent beat and punk influenced Irish writer who maintains a website called Outside Left.
Here's a description of the book from a write-up of its release party in the UK:
"Chelsea Hotel Manhattan features a longish previously unpublished interview with William Burroughs, an essay by Herbert Huncke on Harry Smith, Thelma Blitz on Leonard Cohen at the hotel, George Wallace and Laki Vazakas on Beat poet Marty Matz, a previously unpublished conversation with Allen Ginsberg, a discussion concerning the Chelsea Hotel with Warhol superstar Gerard Malanga, a conversation with Liam Clancy, a conversation with Brendan Behan's biographer Ulick O'Connor, Barry Miles on Claud Pilieu and Mark Beach, Frank Rynne on Herbert Huncke, Spencer Kansa in conversation with William Burroughs, Paul Bowles, Allen Ginsberg, an eyewitness account of the night Sid was accused of killing Nancy, and an interview with Stanley Bard, recently ousted from his position running the Chelsea."

[lizzytysh]

I'm very interested to read all of it... at the moment, particularly the interview with Stanley Bard. I'm relieved to see that someone is capturing in print the character and notoriety of the Chelsea before the blanders have their way. You, Thelma. I'm so proud of you... and grateful to Leonard and Jarkko for being here.


Love,
Lizzy

[dick]

Congrats on your inclusion Thelma! Sounds like a great book.

Is it possible I ordered it in advance prior to the NY Event, and the order was cancelled due to postponed availability? That happend on one Chelsea book.

Can I get it from Amazon? Borders? Definitely want it.

Dick

[lightning]

You can get it from Amazon or Amazon.uk for sure. Dick, I think you will enjoy it, and lots of people on this forum, jarkko and even Leonard himself!