A Different Beat: Writing by Women of the Beat Generation (High Risk Books) [Paperback]

Richard Peabody (Editor)

Book Description

Series: High Risk Books | Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Both a rediscovery and a celebration, this anthology gathers the "beat" period writings of 26 women. The work aims to provide a celebration of the female independence of mind and spirit.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although the Beat Generation was largely fueled by male camaraderie, the role of women in the movement has become a hot topic of late. Peabody's work, which follows close on the heels of Brenda Knight's Women of the Beat Generation (LJ 10/1/96), covers many of the same writers, including Joyce Johnson, Hettie Jones, Diane DiPrima, and Jan Kerouac. With the exception of Leo Skir's moving essay on Elise Cowen, however, there is minimal overlap because each work presents different selections by the featured authors. This anthology is the more valuable for showcasing work by less-celebrated writers like Bonnie Bremser and Fran Landesman and for providing excerpts from unpublished memoirs by two of Jack Kerouac's ex-wives, Frankie "Edie" Parker and Joan Haverty. This well-balanced anthology, which should focus more attention on Beat women, is recommended for all literature collections.?William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 275 pages
• Publisher: Serpent's Tail; First Edition edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1852424311
• ISBN-13: 978-1852424312
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #705,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Just wanted to mention that there are a few spoken word/music Gargoyle CDs on Amazon as well. Gargoyle #52, #49, and #46. You'll find them in Music.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beatific Collection!, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Different Beat: Writing by Women of the Beat Generation (High Risk Books) (Paperback)

Although, most beat anthologies focus mainly on the works of male beat writers; "A Different Beat" provides an excellent source of women who were writing during the Beat Movement. This book is a testament that women were involved in the Beat Movement, and they were not merely watching "their men" from the sidelines. They were expressing themselves through their prose and poetry. I started to give this book four stars for providing a broad (yet sadly, still incomplete) selection of women who were active in the Beat Movement. However, since Elise Cowen's poetry was included in this anthology, I had to give it one more star. If you are interested in "beatnik" writers, this book is definitely something you should pick up.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richard Peabody Provides Grand Overlooked Collection, May 15, 2000

By 

John Osander (Author: "Country Matters" & "Call Me Kick!") - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Different Beat: Writing by Women of the Beat Generation (High Risk Books) (Paperback)

Richard Peabody, whose own writing and editing receives too little attention, has here provided a varied and rich collection of often unknown named woman writers whose words echo back to a time we cannot forget. In many ways their views and sensibilities advance our understanding of their time and individual condition more than their more known male contemporaries. Peabody has provided another service to readers as he does with his series "Gargoyles" and his soon to be available novella "Sugar Mountain."