Customer Reviews

The Beat Book: Writings from the Beat Generation

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If you are looking for a book that gives you the highlights, the best, of the Beats, along with background information, this is the book for you. Ginsberg wrote the forward, Waldman edited. All the writers are here. Enjoy.

The introductions were a little sparse and a lot of the homosexuality was considerably downplayed, Ann's book does give language poetry and female Beats like Diane DiPrima much more space than they get in other Beat anthologies. In fact, much of the "man's world" that is Beat literature is balanced in this anthology. I admit, sometimes, when it comes to overviews of the American avant-garde, one is trading one whitewash for another.

Anyway, this anthology devotes time to writers other than the big three of the Beats. Selections from Joanne Kyger, John Wieners, Diane Di Prima, and Lenore Kandel make this anthology well-worth its price despite its flaws.

Did you know that Burroughs was straight? Or Ginsburg? Yep -- not a word about their homoerotic interests, either in the poems selected (or oddly slashed up) or in the intros. We do find out that Orlovsky was Ginsburg's "companion" -- is this the year 1928? The editor evidently thinks so. Instead of providing an honest introduction to Beat work, she inflicts salacious, incredibly obscure pieces upon us, like a 6-page rant from Michael McClure about (and I quote) "woman woman woman woman woman woman woman." This anthology tells us a lot about the editor's personal idiosyncracies, but it is not a balanced portrayal of the Beats.

Ann,# 1 biographer-with Gerald Nicosia, did the basics, then cam Rolling Stones' "Book of the Beat'..'99..both-are inseparable pieces to the "Beat" heart..a distillation that cannot be surpassed..in this Century" Lowell Celebrates Keoauc, 12th events...

Ann is top..as is Gerald Nicosia (Memory Babe) see collection...by Stones' Magazine..pages 70-75- Gerry is rated Top JK bio...& is hosted at Lowell Celebrates Kerouac,...