Marc West, a believer in books instead of e-readers, attends a poetry recital which shows paper pages still have a future

After years of being under threat from the growing popularity of e-readers, sales figures show the printed book now appears to be holding its own, thank goodness!

I’m hoping the novelty of the e-book has worn off and the digital danger has passed.

Like many others, I have an intimate relationship with the printed word that stretches right back to childhood.

Children (and big kids alike) still enjoy having the tangible object of the book in their hands. I recall (as if it were yesterday) stepping out of City Lights with a small brown paper bag tucked tightly under my arm.

Inside was (at last) my very own copy of a small publication I’d been dreaming about owning and reading for years – and I’d travelled over 5,000 miles to purchase it from the very place it was infamously first published back in the ‘50s.

Howl & Other Poems has now long been considered one of the all-time great works of American counter-cultural literature and the little bookstore where it all started continues to light the way for literary lovers from around the world.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the legendary Californian publishing house and to celebrate this milestone Oxford’s most historic bookstore hosted an evening’s readings of the ground-breaking works of some of it’s most explosive talents from the past half century plus.

The city’s own literati turned up en masse to doff their caps to cult heroes such as of William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and, of course, Allen Ginsberg – on what would have been the controversial figure’s 89th birthday.

As I descended into the candlelit half-light of the Broad Street store’s Norrington Room, I felt like I’d stumbled into an underground literary salon – where intellectual conversation between angel-headed hipsters and turtle-neck clad Beatniks flowed as freely as the vin rouge.

The ecstatic celebration was brought to a silence only when the first reader took to his spot at the lectern.

The fat bearded man in black (in his own words) could easily cut it as my hero Allen G. Such was the sense of anticipation you could’ve heard a pin drop…or my heart furiously beating.

Amply lubricated with alcohol, Dan Holloway delivered his turn in the Beats’ distinctive stream-of-consciousness style.

This fast pace appealed to the Devil-may-care baby boomers trying to escape mediocrity by living life on the road - and their revolutionary appeal still resonates today with Generation Z.

The hushed reverence was broken only by impromptu appreciation – knowing sniggers at in-jokes or rapturous applause between sets.

While I may not have wholly comprehended every word that was spat out, the power of each message was clear.

These works were delivered with the same conviction as the rabble-rousers who wrote them.

Then, it was my turn. As I stood in the spotlight, all eyes were fixed upon me – burning a hole in my body. But, thankfully, drinking was doing what it should and I had an unnatural confidence.

And, rather than rehearse in advance, I decided to evoke the true spirit of the Beats and freestyle it. My risky tactic paid off and I too was on the receiving end of appreciative whoops and claps.

As we all returned once more to the “real” world above – our eyes squinting in the setting sun – it felt as though the chosen few who’d shared this most intimate of experiences had started a little literary revolution all of our own.

If you too believe that printer’s ink is the greatest explosive, be sure to head on down to Blackwell’s next event for lovers of inspiring writing. Pass On A Poem is your chance to share a favourite work with others and discover new talent at the same time.

The next session is on Wednesday, July 1, from 6.30pm. It’s free, but booking in advance is advised and all details are available from blackwell.co.uk