An exhibition celebrating Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the American Beat poet, publisher, painter and activist who turned 100 earlier this year, is being staged at the National Poetry Library at London’s Southbank Centre.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti co-founded the City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, and was tried on obscenity charges after publishing Allen Ginsberg's Howl and Other Poems in 1956.

On display at the exhibition will be examples of Ferlinghetti's visual work, video and audio of him reading his poetry, archival materials, including a letter written by Ferlinghetti, from the National Poetry Library collection, and a range of UK poets will present newly commissioned poems responding to Ferlinghetti's life and work. The free exhibition is from 16 October to 17 November at the library, which is on level 5 of the Royal Festival Hall. More details

Background: The Beat goes on … Lawrence Ferlinghetti is 100