The 1960s will long be remembered as one of the most tumultuous times in the history of theUnited States, as well as in many places throughout the world. Drastic changes in lifestyles, cultural expectations, personal views on drugs and sexual freedom, and a host of other revolutionary ideals served to create both excitement and tension in Americans, young and old. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, when James Dickey was back from the Korean War and writing the poems that would appear in his first volumes of work, everything from music and clothing to civil rights and economics was in flux. Young Americans were not the only ones celebrating newfound freedom and an anything-goes means of expression. So too were the middle-aged and older members of the creative set—artists, musicians, dancers, writers,Hollywood producers, and poets. In an article entitled "James Dickey: The Whole...