Poetic, Vivid Exploration of North Coast History

Local author, poet, and educator Zev Levinson explores the colorful history, rich diversity, and stunning geography of the North Coast through a blend of lyrical poetry and archival photography in his new book, _Song of Six Rivers_, published by Humboldt State University Press.

Levinson will give a public reading to launch his new title on Wednesday, April 18, 7-8 p.m. in the HSU Library Fishbowl, room 209. Refreshments will be served.

When educator, activist, and beloved friend Guy Kuttner died unexpectedly, Levinson heard his voice imploring him to sing of the land they both love. Levinson put his pen to the task of meeting Kuttner’s challenge, confronting mortality and loss as he ventured to understand our connection to the land. At its heart, this endeavor weaves history and poetry into the everyday lives of those who live behind the redwood curtain.

The poem includes historic photographs from the HSU Library Special Collections, most of which have never been published. HSU and College of the Redwoods instructor and indie publisher Cyndy Phillips reviewed thousands of historic photographs, incorporating nearly 50 of them into her design, and HSU student Ashley Schuman provided invaluable assistance with image selection and design. Contemporary yet timeless images were taken by photographers Thomas B. Dunklin and Martin Swett.

Copies of the publication are available now through Amazon and soon online through Humboldt Digital Commons.
Known locally by his first name, Dan, Levinson works with California Poets in the Schools, bringing poetry to classrooms and other sites. He has taught at Humboldt State University and College of the Redwoods, is a Redwood Writing Project teacher-consultant and teacher-leader, and a founder and facilitator of the Lost Coast Writers Retreat. He holds degrees in creative writing, literature, and the teaching of writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; the University of California, Santa Cruz; and Humboldt State University.

About Humboldt State University Press
Humboldt State University Press publishes high-quality scholarly, intellectual, and creative works by or in support of the HSU campus community. HSU Press operations and publications support HSU’s mission to improve the human condition and our environment by promoting understanding of social, economic, and environmental issues. All electronic publications are openly available on the Digital Commons platform, a network that brings together free, electronic scholarly texts from hundreds of universities and colleges around the world.

For more information about Humboldt State University Press, please contact HSU Scholarly Communications and Digital Scholarship Librarian, Kyle Morgan at 707.826.5602.