Beat Voices: An Anthology of Beat Poetry (Paperback)

~ David Kherdian (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Back in 1960, before he began writing for children, Newbery Honor author Kherdian (The Road from Home) carved out a berth for himself among the Beat poets of San Francisco; as he writes in his introduction to this highly personal anthology, he was among the first to publish articles about their work, and he knew the central figures intimately. Here he highlights the rebellious and bohemian spirit of the times with poems by Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Diane di Prima and many others. With an essay by Holt editor Marc Aronson, brief biographical sketches of the poets and an excellent bibliography, this book offers a lively and historically useful entree to the Beat movement. In Kherdian's view, the '50s and early '60s comprise "the last period" in which poetry "that is alive, that breathes, that touches our soul" was written. While his selection does not always reflect the best work of individual poets, the volume itself plunges the reader into the teeming life of the "angelheaded hipsters" (Ginsberg) who watch "the world walk by in its curious shoes" (Lawrence Ferlinghetti). Ages 14-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up?Kherdian hung out with Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and other icons of the Beat domain; he heard their disdain and absorbed their inspired agony. Here, he has gathered a representative sampling of their work, both East and West Coast poets, both well-known and incidental. Ginsberg's epic "Howl" appropriately opens the volume. Kaufman's "Bagel Shop Jazz" offers one of the best looks at the movement with its "turtle-neck angel guys" and "mulberry-eyed girls in black stockings...lost in a dream world where time is told with a beat." The lines are harsh, speaking of abuse, drugs, sex, and carnage amid hope and dreams. The words are oft confusing, sometimes seemingly random, but always flailing against that brick wall of convention. With an open mind and ear, readers can gather a pretty good sense of the thoughts and lives of these confused, mighty, and eloquent writers. Brief bios offer a fleeting additional glimpse. For a condensed and intense view of one aspect of this troubled generation, Beat Voices can't be beat. The poetry is palpable and powerful. While perhaps not for everyone's tastes, these lines of poetry and sometimes prose offer a vision of the movement that challenged authority, religion, common sense, and life in general. Today's YAs should be able to relate to their intent, if not their specific words and references.?Sharon Korbeck, Waupaca Area Public Library, WI
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (September 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688149162
• ISBN-13: 978-0688149161
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #450,541 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must for the new beat fan, July 3, 1998

By A Customer

after reading this selection many times, i have become enthraled the lives of kerouac, cassady, and ginsburg. for a new fan of these great poets, this book is a must. it will give you a great work of information that can allow you to discover the works of many innovative poets

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ted Joans and Bob Kaufmann are my favorites, February 18, 2002

By	"editeur" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This is a great overview of Beat Poetics. Check out Ted Joans, who remains the most lucid of the Beat poets and who still writing and reading strong. He has just published a new collection of poetry called Our Thang, also available on Amazon. He and Bob Kaufmann are possible the two most extraordinary writers of this extraordinary generation.