Moving Through Here

New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1970. First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. Very Good/Very Good.

Light tan cloth stamped in black, blue-gray topstain; 8.75 inches tall; xiv,235,[3]pp.

The bindings are tight and square. Text clean, light even toning. Moderate shelf handling wear the preliminary pages with light foxing; Outer edge of the cloth age-darkening. The dust jacket with the price of &5.95 was designed by Peter Max. Light even age-toning two closed tears on the top rear edge and a small closed tear on the lower front edge.  . The anthology showcasing McNeill's contributions to the Village Voice from 1967-68 offers a vivid portrayal of the era, capturing the essence of the times and places the author experienced during his brief yet impactful tenure in the tumultuous sixties. Acting as both a keen observer and an active participant, McNeill paints a compelling picture of the people and street scenes he encountered.

The collection immerses readers in the narrative of a single year: 1967. Despite McNeill's untimely death at the age of 23 in August 1968, his poignant reflections remain timeless. Through a selection of his Voice writings, readers are transported to the Lower East Side of New York City, a focal point of the hippie movement on the East Coast.

While many journalists focused on the hippie culture of Haight-Ashbury, McNeill's depiction of New York's Lower East Side unveils a different reality. Unlike the airy atmosphere of San Francisco, the streets of New York were entrenched in the struggles of the slums. Even amidst McNeill's affectionate portrayals of Be-Ins and interactions between hippies and Puerto Ricans, there lingers a sense of darkness and oppression. Love, though blossoming amidst the chaos, is tinged with danger on the gritty streets of Avenue B.