The Beat Generation

by Jamie Russell

Were they angel-headed hipsters, dope smoking dropouts or the most exciting group of writers in postwar American literature? Their stories of drugs, sex and the search for an alternative to 'squaresville' have cornered the market in cult literature, remaining hip even while being taught on university courses and in schools. On the Road, Naked Lunch and Howl have become milestones of underground literature and the key Beats (Kerouac, Burroughs and Ginsberg) are mythic figures of contemporary pop culture. This Pocket Essential provides an introductory essay examining the importance of the writers and their work in American culture. Separate chapters are devoted to the lives and work of Burroughs, Ginsberg and Kerouac. Later chapters discuss the other members of this movement (Neal Cassady, Herbert Huncke and many more), the Beats on film, and their influence on the counterculture of the 60s.

Genres: Nonfiction

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

When Jamie was five, he saw a Space Invaders arcade machine in a greasy fish and chip shop at the seaside. It blew his mind and started a lifelong love of videogames.

After graduating from London University, Jamie became a film critic for the BBC and a contributing editor for Total Film magazine. He was sent to special movie screenings and fed free sandwiches. He thought it was the best job ever.

But he was wrong…

A little later, he wrote for videogame magazine EDGE and realised that you could actually get paid for shooting aliens in the face with shotguns.

Since then he has worked as a screenwriter, speechwriter and as a narrative consultant for a big US tech company that swore him to secrecy. He has written several non-fiction books for grown ups on everything from videogames to zombies.

His fiction debut is the SKYWAKE trilogy for readers 9+ launching in March 2021. It's a story about videogames, aliens and what it takes to be a leader.

Reviews

[sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

lacks the soul of the beats. certain (for me) essential details are missing that deliver the spark of the beats; that is, how allen fell in love just by peters picture, etc., many things missing. made me realize that I haven't picked up a ginsberg in a while and its time.

[Tom O’Connell]

Offers concise introductions to Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs, summarising what they're best known for and detailing an extensive – if not entirely comprehensive – bibliography for each writer.

Exactly what you'd expect from a 'pocket book'; my only qualm was the oodles of personal bias (assigning ratings to works and tarnishing reputations with conjecture. That, I could've done without.

[Tanmay Tathagat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Contains information you could get from Wikipedia. Strictly by the numbers. Just OK.

[Teemu Helle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asiallinen perusteos Beat-sukupolven synnystä ja sen keskeisistä tekijöistä.

[Pritha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish it had more to offer.

[Scott Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introduction to the Beats. Respect for the author. Well done.

That being said:

1. Burroughs should have faced life in prison for murdering his wife. There are too many hipster weirdos out there that need a pervert daddy to tell them that being evil is O.K. see: Bukowski. see: the Velvet underground.

2. Ginsberg should have stayed in the mental ward. Crap poetry. Crap person.

3. Kerouac needed to sober up for a moment and stop crushing on schizophrenic and opportunistic narcissists. Looking at you Neal Cassady and you Gary Synder.

Quick quiz:

How is "Buddhism" perverted and redefined into the good olde German hedonism for the mirror-worshiping naturmenschen narcissist? (see above for the answer)