The Outlaw Bible of American Literature (Paperback)

by Alan Kaufman (Editor), Barney Rosset (Editor), Neil Ortenberg (Editor) "LOS ANGELES, AN ENDLESS sprawl of suburban subdivisions spread out in a massive grid encircling Hollywood, the fraudulent Mecca of egotistical schemers..." (more)
Key Phrases: hotdog riders, outlaw bible, fifteen packs, New York, Hell's Angels, Dee Dee (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (1999) broke the ground on which this second resounding gathering of counterculture voices is now planted. Just as the term outlaw bible sets off a pleasurably oxymoronic frisson, so, too, does this collection's heady and revealing mix of literary excellence, political conviction, grittiness, and sexy highjinks. The editors--Kaufman, author of Jew Boy (2000); "gonzo publisher" Neil Ortenberg; and Barney Rosset, the famed founder of Grove Press and publisher of Henry Miller, William S. Burroughs, and Kathy Acker, all represented here--interpret the term literature broadly, and so include Miles Davis recalling prickly moments with Charlie Parker and Milton Berle, Annie Sprinkle recounting her "brushes with the law," a graphic tale by Harvey Pekar, a reminiscence by alpha Hell's Angel Sonny Barger, and a rave by Timothy Leary. But here, too, are Grace Paley, Paul Bowles, Ray Bradbury, Jessica Hagedorn, Sapphire, Clive Barker, and Don De Grazia. Short takes, enticing categories, outspoken voices, and surprising juxtapositions make for a lively and illuminating sampling, a real reading party. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
The Outlaw Bible of American Literature will serve as a primer for generational revolt and an enduring document of the visionary tradition of authenticity and nonconformity in literature. This exuberant manifesto includes lives of the writers, on-the-scene testimony, seminal underground articles never before collected, photographs, cartoons, drawings, interviews, and, above all, the writings. Beat, Punk, Noir, Prison, Porn, Cyber, Queer, Anarchist, Blue Collar, Pulp, Sci-Fi, Utopian, Mobster, Political—all are represented. The Bible includes fiction, essays, letters, memoirs, journalism, lyrics, diaries, manifestoes, and selections from seminal film scripts, including Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, and Taxi Driver. The editors have brought together an extravagant, eclectic, searing, and unforgettable body of work, showcasing Hustlers, Mavericks, Contrarians, Rockers, Barbarians, Gangsters, Hedonists, Provocateurs, Hipsters, and Revolutionaries—all in one raucous cauldron of rebellion and otherness. This prose companion to the best-selling award-winning Outlaw Bible of American Poetry features selections from Hunter S. Thompson, Exene Cervenka, Patti Smith, Dennis Cooper, Malcolm X, Sonny Barger, Maggie Estep, Lenny Bruce, Henry Miller, R. Crumb, Philip K. Dick, Iceberg Slim, Gil Scott-Heron, Kathy Acker, Jim Carroll, Charles Mingus, Norman Mailer, and many others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 920 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (December 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560255501
• ISBN-13: 978-1560255505
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #288,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for anyone interested in American poetry from the last 50 years, January 13, 2008

By	Dominic Giafagleone "lovefro" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have a love hate relationship involving this book. I LOVE this book it is one of the only places you can find D.A. Levy's poems. I HATE myself because I have lost it 3 times and I am now on my fourth copy. But this book is great enough where I will buy 4 copies ($65.88) just so i can not be long with out it. It is in my backpack it is on my nightstand. This has given me great perspective within my own writing. Though it could use some more super recent poets (Def jam and some more recent slammers) but over all it is one of the most influential books in my life

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good snippets...but that's all, April 7, 2008

By	T. Black "Hot Tea" (Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a great book of coupons. It's not a great book of products though. I was looking for a book I could use for a class, though, and this isn't it. I'm glad I bought it, though. I just can't use it for what I bought it for.