Encyclopedia of Beat Literature (Literary Movements).pdf (Facts on File)

Since the 1950s, the experimental style, bohemian life and rebellious attitudes of the Beats have influenced literature and culture. The deaths at the end of the 20th century of such Beat figures as Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs renewed interest in the lives and work of writers who have held underground appeal for generations of young adults. Some Beat writers and their associates, such as Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), and Denise Levertov, are now included in classroom anthologies; others have popular appeal for their unorthodox writing style and anti-authoritarian point of view. In an A-to-Z format, this work covers the literary origins and key figures of the Beat movement. More than 500 entries cover: synopses of fiction, poetry and essays by Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs and other major Beat writers, with notes on background and critical reception.

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—This source emphasizes the best works of Beat literature. The introduction poses questions and provides analyses as to what works constitute the genre. Various scholarly contributors, including teachers, authors, poets, and English professors, sign off on numerous entries written in a succinct, informative, and user-friendly manner. Readers can access entries alphabetically, either by writer or literary work. Coverage ranges from the more popularly known writers, such as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, to people such as Kathy Acker, Carolyn Cassady, Bob Dylan, Charles Bukowski, and John Lennon, who are associated with the movement in differing ways. Enhancements include occasional black-and-white photographs taken by renowned Beat photographer Larry Keenan, selected primary and secondary bibliographies, and a chronology. Though this is an excellent resource, William T. Lawlor's Beat Culture: Lifestyles, Icons, and Impact (ABC-CLIO, 2005) provides a broader overview of Beat culture and would more easily support a teaching-across-the-curriculum focus, with its assortment of entries on multiple subjects, such as literature, history, and people.—Cara Webster, Cumberland Square Vise Library, Lebanon, TN

Hardcover: 401 pages
Publisher: Facts on File (November 14, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0816042977
ISBN-13: 978-0816042975