Naked Angels: Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs (Paperback)

~ (Author) "JACK KEROUAC, ALLEN GINSBERG, WILLIAM BURROUGHS, and a group of other writers, artists, and mavericks of inspiration like Neal Cassady, formed a "movement" which began..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Allen Ginsberg, Visions of Cody (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An essential book." -- John Clellon Holmes

"As fine a view as we are likely to get of this vibrant phase in American literary history." -- Chicago Sun-Times

"Energy, conviction, and unexpected brilliance." -- New Yorker --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

Energy, conviction, and unexpected brilliance.-New Yorker. The definitive history of the 'beat generation'.... It is an authoritative piece of literary history as a result of which Kerouac, Burroughs, and Ginsberg will be read with greater understanding, sympathy, and insight.-Leon Edel. Naked Angels is continually illuminating...written with insight, passion, and an awareness of just how prophetic these men were in their lives and works. I consider it an essential book.-John Clellon Holmes. Strong, urgent, ultimately thrilling.-Peter Schjeldahl, New York Times Book Review. As fine a view as we are likely to get of this vibrant phase in American literary history.-Chicago Sun-Times. A thoroughly readable and persuasive work...by far the best extensive commentaries on the works of Burroughs, Kerouac, and Ginsberg.-Thomas Parkinson, American Literature. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 273 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802132472
• ISBN-13: 978-0802132475
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,247,503 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Critical Introduction to Core Beats, September 27, 2001

By	MyComa - See all my reviews

Published over twenty years ago, Naked Angels still holds up as a thorough critical study of the works of Ginsberg, Burroughs, and Kerouac. The first section deals mainly in biography, but it seeks to explain why each of the writers explored certain topics and how their experiences shaped their styles. However, if you have studied these three in a biographical sense, the information presented here will not be new to you.

The second section covers the works of the three writers. While there is certainly a wealth of sources that give critical insights into Beat writing, this section brings them together into an often detailed, more often general study of Beat themes, styles, and voices. The Ginsberg section is particularly detailed in its analysis of Ginsberg's long lines and mysticism. Though Kerouac and Burroughs receive their share of treatment, the Burroughs section lacks the further illumination provided by Burroughs over the last twenty years of his life. And the Kerouac section hits only the high points, simply because it would be too difficult to cover every aspect of this prolific writer's work in a mere 70 pages.

This book is a solid overview of the core Beats and their seminal works. Its age shows at times, but it's worth a read as a well-written and well-thought treatment of Beat literature.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Insight Into the Beats, March 28, 2001

By	Thomas Swafford "[e-mail]" (Chattanooga,Tn) - See all my reviews

Tytell gives an excellent insight into the founding members of the Beat movement. He shows the backgrounds and the motivations of one of the most innovative literary movements in the 20th century. I would strongly recomend this for anyone , especially if they are just starting to explore this group of writers.