Ken Kesey was an American writer and counterculture figure. His first novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, published in 1962, was an instant success and formed the basis for the eponymously titled 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson. Following this, he moved to California and became ingratiated into the bohemian and literary culture of the day, hosting "happenings" under the moniker of The Merry Pranksters. These parties were known as Acid Tests, and featured the integration of LSD and various multimedia performances. He even mentored the Grateful Dead around this time, and exerted a profound influence throughout their career. In 1965 Kesey was arrested for marijuana possession and a faked suicide and was imprisoned for five months. Following this, he moved to Oregon and maintained a fairly secluded, family-oriented lifestyle for the remainder of his life. An interesting dude, indeed.

Sometimes a Great Notion was his second novel, published in 1964. While One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest is arguably much more famous, many critics maintain that it was Sometimes that is his magmum opus. The story involves a group of loggers in Oregon who cut and procure trees for a local mill in opposition to striking, unionized workers. This is the first printing:

Kesey and his 1965 mug shot:

More info here:
http://www.rarebooksleuth.com/featured/sometimes-a-great-notion-ken-kesey-first-edition-first-printing