What do you think?
Rate this book
Family Business: Selected Letters Between a Father and a Son
FAMILY BUSINESS is not only a personal glimpse into the life of one of the great US poets, but also the moving story of a relationship between a father and a son set against the turbulent world of postwar America. As a literary portrait of a father and son, little can match the eloquence and honesty of this collection of letters, written between the years 1944 and 1976. The illuminating correspondence between Allen Ginsberg and his father, Louis, begins when Allen is a precocious, rebellious college student and charts his ascension as a revolutionary icon in poetry. Their letters are filled with affection, respect, and a healthy dose of argumentative zeal - they debate every major political and artistic issue that faced America in over three decades of extraordinary change. Their correspondence also reveals the defining moments that shaped Allen's art - his experimentation with LSD, his various love affairs and obsessions, his travels around the globe. We see, from this unique perspective, the crucial process of a poet's widening experience of the world, and how these experiences are transformed in his art.
Hardcover
First published September 22, 2001
3 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Allen Ginsberg
520 books4,144 followersAllen Ginsberg was a groundbreaking American poet and activist best known for his central role in the Beat Generation and for writing the landmark poem Howl. Born in 1926 in Newark, New Jersey, to Jewish parents, Ginsberg grew up in a household shaped by both intellectualism and psychological struggle. His father, Louis Ginsberg, was a published poet and a schoolteacher, while his mother, Naomi, suffered from severe mental illness, which deeply affected Ginsberg and later influenced his writing—most notably in his poem Kaddish.
As a young man, Ginsberg attended Columbia University, where he befriended other future Beat luminaries such as Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and Neal Cassady. These relationships formed the core of what became known as the Beat Generation—a loose-knit group of writers and artists who rejected mainstream American values in favor of personal liberation, spontaneity, spiritual exploration, and radical politics.
Ginsberg rose to national prominence in 1956 with the publication of Howl and Other Poems, released by City Lights Books in San Francisco. Howl, an emotionally charged and stylistically experimental poem, offered an unfiltered vision of America’s underbelly. It included candid references to homosexuality, drug use, and mental illness—subjects considered taboo at the time. The poem led to an obscenity trial, which ultimately concluded in Ginsberg’s favor, setting a precedent for freedom of speech in literature.
His work consistently challenged social norms and addressed themes of personal freedom, sexual identity, spirituality, and political dissent. Ginsberg was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was still criminalized in much of the United States, and he became a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights throughout his life. His poetry often intertwined the personal with the political, blending confessional intimacy with a broader critique of American society.
Beyond his literary achievements, Ginsberg was also a dedicated activist. He protested against the Vietnam War, nuclear proliferation, and later, U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. He was present at many pivotal cultural and political moments of the 1960s and 1970s, including the 1968 Democratic National Convention and various countercultural gatherings. His spiritual journey led him to Buddhism, which deeply influenced his writing and worldview. He studied under Tibetan teacher Chögyam Trungpa and helped establish the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.
Ginsberg’s later years were marked by continued literary output and collaborations with musicians such as Bob Dylan and The Clash. His poetry collections, including Reality Sandwiches, Planet News, and The Fall of America, were widely read and respected. He received numerous honors for his work, including the National Book Award for Poetry in 1974.
He died of liver cancer in 1997 at the age of 70. Today, Allen Ginsberg is remembered not only as a pioneering poet, but also as a courageous voice for free expression, social justice, and spiritual inquiry. His influence on American literature and culture remains profound and enduring.
As a young man, Ginsberg attended Columbia University, where he befriended other future Beat luminaries such as Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and Neal Cassady. These relationships formed the core of what became known as the Beat Generation—a loose-knit group of writers and artists who rejected mainstream American values in favor of personal liberation, spontaneity, spiritual exploration, and radical politics.
Ginsberg rose to national prominence in 1956 with the publication of Howl and Other Poems, released by City Lights Books in San Francisco. Howl, an emotionally charged and stylistically experimental poem, offered an unfiltered vision of America’s underbelly. It included candid references to homosexuality, drug use, and mental illness—subjects considered taboo at the time. The poem led to an obscenity trial, which ultimately concluded in Ginsberg’s favor, setting a precedent for freedom of speech in literature.
His work consistently challenged social norms and addressed themes of personal freedom, sexual identity, spirituality, and political dissent. Ginsberg was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was still criminalized in much of the United States, and he became a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights throughout his life. His poetry often intertwined the personal with the political, blending confessional intimacy with a broader critique of American society.
Beyond his literary achievements, Ginsberg was also a dedicated activist. He protested against the Vietnam War, nuclear proliferation, and later, U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. He was present at many pivotal cultural and political moments of the 1960s and 1970s, including the 1968 Democratic National Convention and various countercultural gatherings. His spiritual journey led him to Buddhism, which deeply influenced his writing and worldview. He studied under Tibetan teacher Chögyam Trungpa and helped establish the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.
Ginsberg’s later years were marked by continued literary output and collaborations with musicians such as Bob Dylan and The Clash. His poetry collections, including Reality Sandwiches, Planet News, and The Fall of America, were widely read and respected. He received numerous honors for his work, including the National Book Award for Poetry in 1974.
He died of liver cancer in 1997 at the age of 70. Today, Allen Ginsberg is remembered not only as a pioneering poet, but also as a courageous voice for free expression, social justice, and spiritual inquiry. His influence on American literature and culture remains profound and enduring.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 22, 2021
Loved it. Will try to write more later, if I get a chance.
July 27, 2007
fascinating insights into allen ginsburg and his melodramatic beatnik world. he was sometimes brutally honest with his father which is intriguing in itself, and the editor steps in from time to time to inform you of the delicate contexts in which these letters were written (i.e. allen's state of health/mind, love affairs beginning and ending, locations and activities of kerouac, cassady, etc.). it is also full of family charm and humor, and despite his reservations and /or frequent vocal disapproval of allen's choices, louis always seems to be ready to dole out $5 to help him pay a bill or the rent or for bus fare, which was quite sweet.
Read
December 29, 2019An interesting book here of letters between father and son, both poets by trade, both ever loving, ever growing old with different eyes on the world. There's Louis, of course, traditional and though supposedly socialist still supporting the Cold War in word and deed. And there's Allen, the renegade Beat poet who seeks peace with a harmonica and is against most every manner of war. The two argue about politics and yet Louis is surprisingly understanding, given the times, about his son Allen's drug use. "Perhaps it will inspire some poetry," he says. And it does. Especially after Allen has his great vision in the Peruvian jungle what with seeing the origin of all consciousness, the great beast of being and nonbeing drawing near him there with the body of a mosquito and an elephant and a human being, indeed of all creation, giving him visions of his ultimate demise. And so after trips across America and abroad Allen and Luis come to grip with their intimations of mortality - no, not "Intimations Of Immortality," that would be Wordsworth, we're talking mortality here - Alan and Lou's book comes to an end. Love and kisses reign over all. A welcome book for whoever cares to read it.
July 25, 2015
Both father and son, Louis and Allen Ginsberg, were poets in their own right, but Allen's fame would soon eclipse that of his father. Therefore, the selected letters collected in this edition are more than a personal record of family affairs. They are a correspondence between two poets, with Louis often commenting on and giving Allen advice on how to write poetry. Louis is the role as a mentor comes about quite naturally, firstly, of course a the father, and also as the more mature, more experienced poet of the two of them. Besides, Louis was a lecturer, and in that role it would be natural for him to guide Allen in his development as a poet.
However, it does not become apparent to what extent Allen heeded his parent's advice, for example, telling him not to use foul language in his poetry. A close study of the poetry, or other biographical sources might reveal whether Allen Ginsberg heeded that advice, or not.
Family Business: Selected Letters between a Father and a Son spans the correspondence between Louis and Allen Ginsberg betweem 1944 and 1976. Thus, the reader will get a very comprehensive overview of the personal development, both as a poet and the private life of Allen Ginsberg.
The letters describe intimate, personal details about Allen's coming out and his sexual orientation. In the letters to his father, Allen seems reticent to write about his exploits with the other writers of the Beat Generation, such as Burroughs and Kerouac, or his contacts with Neal Cassidy. The letters are mostly about Allen's output as a poet, and less about his experiments with prose.
Mention is made in the letters of the genesis and success of all major poems, such as Howl and Kaddish. The letters could also be very well read as an introduction into the reading of Ginsberg's poetry, as I have started reading the Collected Poetry of Allen Ginsberg alongside.
There are some gaps, where letters are missing, but this does not diminish the overall value of the collection. The letters are also of great value to understand the Beat Generation, particularly from the political and social point of view. In vehement discussions with his father, Allen Ginsberg describes his political views of the day, his ideas about Communism and the anti-war stance.
The letters in this collection show how Allen blooms: his development as a poor poet and his subsequent entry into the world, earning more and more money as his fame unfolded and spread. The letters reveal his personal development as he travelled around the world
Reading collections of letters is not the most common type of reading activities, and might be considered relevant only to academics. However, in the case of Family Business, I would surely suggest anyone with an interest in the poetry and person of Allen Ginsberg to have a look at this book. The book is rather bulky and voluminous, well-edited and annotated, and a pleasure to hold, when reading.
However, it does not become apparent to what extent Allen heeded his parent's advice, for example, telling him not to use foul language in his poetry. A close study of the poetry, or other biographical sources might reveal whether Allen Ginsberg heeded that advice, or not.
Family Business: Selected Letters between a Father and a Son spans the correspondence between Louis and Allen Ginsberg betweem 1944 and 1976. Thus, the reader will get a very comprehensive overview of the personal development, both as a poet and the private life of Allen Ginsberg.
The letters describe intimate, personal details about Allen's coming out and his sexual orientation. In the letters to his father, Allen seems reticent to write about his exploits with the other writers of the Beat Generation, such as Burroughs and Kerouac, or his contacts with Neal Cassidy. The letters are mostly about Allen's output as a poet, and less about his experiments with prose.
Mention is made in the letters of the genesis and success of all major poems, such as Howl and Kaddish. The letters could also be very well read as an introduction into the reading of Ginsberg's poetry, as I have started reading the Collected Poetry of Allen Ginsberg alongside.
There are some gaps, where letters are missing, but this does not diminish the overall value of the collection. The letters are also of great value to understand the Beat Generation, particularly from the political and social point of view. In vehement discussions with his father, Allen Ginsberg describes his political views of the day, his ideas about Communism and the anti-war stance.
The letters in this collection show how Allen blooms: his development as a poor poet and his subsequent entry into the world, earning more and more money as his fame unfolded and spread. The letters reveal his personal development as he travelled around the world
Reading collections of letters is not the most common type of reading activities, and might be considered relevant only to academics. However, in the case of Family Business, I would surely suggest anyone with an interest in the poetry and person of Allen Ginsberg to have a look at this book. The book is rather bulky and voluminous, well-edited and annotated, and a pleasure to hold, when reading.
July 26, 2011
What a great book. This father and son had a truly remarkable relationship & that it was Allen Ginsberg! Well, amazing. I found it very exciting to read about historical events from a personal viewpoint & to understand the differences in the generations. It all plays out before your eyes. Wonderful book.
March 4, 2009
This book is fascinating! Some genuine insight into a family of writers. I find myself laughing out loud.
October 12, 2018
Best line, by Louis, "Hope we don't get blinded by the white glare of the sour cream." (p. 230)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews