Beat Generation Poets?

Question

Hi,

Been reading some Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac....getting right into them. Read "On the Road", "Dharma Bums" and "Big Sur".... absolutely brilliant.

Anyone else interested in these guys? Another good recomendations?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's 'Pictures of the Gone World' is very good. pretty sure he is the guy who started up the City Lights publishing company and bookshop. City Lights publish most of the Beat poetry stuff.

A lesser known beat poet was Gregory Corso, his book 'Gasoline' is very good.

Kerouaks novel 'Visions of Cody' is a good book and a nice blend of his prose and his poetry.

As others have mentioned, William Burroughs is one of the best from that scene. Books like 'Junky' and 'Queer' are pretty straightforward accounts of his life, whereas 'Naked Lunch' and 'nova express' etc employ his 'cut up' technique, collaging words and pages together to create quite unique experiences. sci fi and fantasy imagery used quite often in an allegorical way to talk about his concerns - politics, drugs etc

Tom Wolf, Hunter S Thompson and Ken Kesey are other authors who, although not necessarily part of that scene write about similar subject matter

Answer 2

Burroughs is a tube read, definately one for the modern world, soundbite heaven.

The Beats were hugely influenced by Russian writer Dostoyevsky, and if you haven't I'd definately dip into him. Though don't go for Crime and Punishment, The Idiot or The Brothers Karamazov are the best.

I would recommend 'Maggie Cassidy' by Jack Kerouac. It's dreamy and not at all prosaic like some of his others.

Good question!

Answer 3

Here's a couple of other authors you might like:

William S. Burroughs : he was one of the "godfathers" of the beat generation, although he always denied being beat.

Charles Bukowski: Raw, dirty, disgusting, and amazing to read. He was unique. Thank God!

Ken Kesey: Not sure he did poetry, but his novels are considered by some to link the beat and hippie generations.
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

Richard Brautigan: He is considered one of the last beat authors. One of his most famous books is called "Trout Fishing In America" which has little to do with fishing and almost nothing to do with trout. He wrote poetry and novels.

Enjoy!

Answer 4

Yeah, I love Beat stuff. Not too big on Kerouac, though. My favorite Beat was William Burroughs. Check out "Naked Lunch" and "Junkie". I'd also recommend Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

Answer 5

I think Kerouac was fantastic (apart from supporting the Vietnam War). I'm planning on reading Desolation Angels soon. It sounds very interesting.

Answer 6

Good recommendations from all.
So for the heck of it, I submit you check out guys like T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound etc. They came just before the Beats, and influenced the Beats, among others of course.
Then I'd recommend reading the lyrics of Bob Dylan as poetry, he and Ginsberg were great friends. He came just after the Beats, and you can see their influence in his work.

Answer 7

blood and guts in high school by Kathy Acker is great read, its more punk era but I like allen ginsburg and Jack kerouac so maybe you will like it. the naked lunch is excellent read.

Answer 8

I read this collection of Ginsburg poems all about San Francisco, it was awesome.

Answer 9

the daddy: bill Burroughs. i don't evaluate Bob Dylan a Beat, altho he does perceive with them. He surely says all of it maximum fantastically (i think of he CAN sing, easily), yet Burroughs says it with imaginitive type and rawness (is that a be conscious?).