A Romania-born poet, novelist, and National Public Radio commentator who emigrated to the United States in 1966, Andrei Codrescu uses the English language to explore political and social issues around the globe. He wrote and starred in cinematographer Jean de Segonzac's Peabody Award-winning film #Road Scholar. His coverage of the collapse of communism in Romania, for both NPR and ABC's #Nightline, in 1989, was expanded into a book, #The Hole in Tte Flag, that was published by the William Murrow Publishing Company. It was one of 15 books of poetry, five books of fiction, and seven books of essays that he has written. Codrescu has also recorded four albums -- No Tacos for Saddam, Fax Your Prayers, Plato Sucks, and The Valley of Christmas -- with his poetry recited to the accompaniment of musicians including guitarist/producer Mark Bingham. According to beat poet and owner of the City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, "This transplanted Transylvanian with the bateau-mouche mustache always manages to create craving for the subversive -- something that is needed in these days of 'friendly fascism.'" A past recipient of a fellowship for poetry, editing, and radio from the National Endowment for the Arts, Codrescu received an ACLU Freedom of Speech award in 1995. He has also received a General Electric Foundation Poetry Prize. A citizen of the United States since 1981, Codrescu teaches writing at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He serves as editor of the literary journal Exquisite Corpse. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi