| Biography | John Esam was a pivotal figure in 1960s London. Born in Gisborne, New Zealand, he moved to the UK in 1961, with extended excursions to Morocco, Greece, Stockholm and France. In 1962-63 he enjoyed a stint at the "Beat hotel" in Paris, where he met writers including William Burroughs and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Along with Dan and Jill Richter, Esam arranged the International Poetry Incarnation held at the Royal Albert Hall in 1965, where readers included Allen Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Alex Trocchi and Gregory Corso. Peter Whitehead, with John as assistant director, filmed the event as 'Wholly Communion'. |