Remembering Barney Rosset, by John Oakes “While Barney was never doctrinaire, unlike so many other great editors and publishers of his era who were only too eager to collaborate with the authorities, his commitment to being radically different never waivered. Was he a proponent of “American values” as sanctioned by the U.S. Information Agency? Was he furthering the goals and aspirations of the society that fostered him, scion that he was of a wealthy Chicago banking family? Was he, at least in theory, promoting high culture to the masses? Hell no, to all the above. Barney was interested in blowing things up, in combat publishing. And if he didn’t do so literally … well, maybe it’s just that he was never found out.”

Remembering Barney Rosset, by John Oakes

“While Barney was never doctrinaire, unlike so many other great editors and publishers of his era who were only too eager to collaborate with the authorities, his commitment to being radically different never waivered. Was he a proponent of “American values” as sanctioned by the U.S. Information Agency? Was he furthering the goals and aspirations of the society that fostered him, scion that he was of a wealthy Chicago banking family? Was he, at least in theory, promoting high culture to the masses? Hell no, to all the above. Barney was interested in blowing things up, in combat publishing. And if he didn’t do so literally … well, maybe it’s just that he was never found out.”

Source: pen.org