This work investigates the origins and evolution of the American underground movement as it transitioned from the bohemian enclaves of Greenwich Village into a broader cultural force. Ronald Sukenick, a novelist and critic embedded within these circles, utilizes a blend of personal observation, interviews, and historical synthesis to document the individuals who redefined aesthetic and moral standards in mid-20th century America. The text argues that the underground was not merely a collection of artists, but a cohesive social structure that challenged mainstream societal norms through radical experimentation.

Critics often cite this book as a primary source for understanding the social dynamics of the mid-century avant-garde. Scholars frequently note the author's subjective, participant-observer approach as both a strength in narrative texture and a limitation in traditional academic objectivity.