In Memoriam: Donald Allen

Donald M. Allen, editor of the landmark Beat era anthology The New American Poetry: 1945-1960, passed away Aug. 29. Allen also served as the editor for Jack Kerouac's Mexico City Blues.

When not editing poetry, Allen was engaged in a variety of other activities, including publishing (works by Kerouac, Gary Snyder, Allen Ginsberg, Frank O'Hara, etc.) and teaching English in China.

"He was very proud of his World War II service," friend Michael Williams told the San Francisco Chronicle. "He served in the Pacific as a translator of Japanese documents. After the surrender of Japan, he went to London and served as the naval attache to the American Embassy. He received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service."

Somewhere, Allen and Gregory Corso are hitchhiking in heaven.