Encyclopedia of Beat Literature

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.