King of May: The Brief Reign of Allen Ginsberg in Czechoslovakia

In the spring of 1965, the American Beat poet Allen Ginsberg stepped off a plane in Prague, unaware that his unplanned visit would ignite a cultural spark in Cold War Czechoslovakia. Within weeks, he was crowned the "King of May" by Czech students—a spontaneous act of rebellion that celebrated poetry, freedom, and the power of art to challenge authoritarian rule. Days later, he was arrested and expelled by the communist StB secret police, who feared his influence on a restless generation. King of May tells the extraordinary true story of Ginsberg's brief but unforgettable stay in Prague and the legacy it left on Czech literature, art, music, and resistance. Drawing on memoirs, archival documents, oral histories, and Ginsberg's own journals, the book brings to life a pivotal moment when the Beat Generation collided with Eastern Europe's struggle for freedom. This is more than a biography of Ginsberg. It is a portrait of Prague in the 1960s—a city buzzing with underground cafés, samizdat literature, and young artists defying the official doctrine of socialist realism. It explores how humor, black irony, and cultural exchange sustained Czech intellectuals through censorship and surveillance, ultimately feeding into the spirit of the Prague Spring and later the Velvet Revolution. Perfect for readers of literary history, Cold War studies, Beat Generation memoirs, and Czech culture, King of May illuminates the surprising ways art can become a weapon against authoritarianism. Whether you are a fan of Howl, a student of 20th-century history, or simply curious about the hidden links between American counterculture and Eastern European resistance, this book will change the way you see both Ginsberg and Prague.