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A review by behindthecritic
The Best Minds of My Generation: A Literary History of the Beats by Allen Ginsberg
5.0
Ginsy, I love you.
It's kinda annoying that I was trying to access these lectures when writing my dissertation and couldn't get them anywhere then this book was released the day my research was due but oh well.
I love this book. It reminds me of De Quincey's observation on the Romantic poets but instead we are looking at the Beat Generation and Ginsberg's lectures analyse writing style as well as giving us all the gossip.
My favourite thing was Ginsberg highlighting what writing and music I inspired the Beats' works. As I writer I love seeing the thought process behind a piece of work. Seeing Russian literature and French poetry amongst other familiar titles on my bookshelf was quite heartwarming knowing Ginsberg was inspired by the same books.
The structure of these lectures is quite loose and a bit repetitive - but Bill Morgan has done a wonderful job at editing Ginsberg's lectures yet still keeping his chatty personality. I applaud Bill Morgan for his editing skills because I understand how difficult it would've been.
If you love the Beat Generation, this is essential reading.
It's kinda annoying that I was trying to access these lectures when writing my dissertation and couldn't get them anywhere then this book was released the day my research was due but oh well.
I love this book. It reminds me of De Quincey's observation on the Romantic poets but instead we are looking at the Beat Generation and Ginsberg's lectures analyse writing style as well as giving us all the gossip.
My favourite thing was Ginsberg highlighting what writing and music I inspired the Beats' works. As I writer I love seeing the thought process behind a piece of work. Seeing Russian literature and French poetry amongst other familiar titles on my bookshelf was quite heartwarming knowing Ginsberg was inspired by the same books.
The structure of these lectures is quite loose and a bit repetitive - but Bill Morgan has done a wonderful job at editing Ginsberg's lectures yet still keeping his chatty personality. I applaud Bill Morgan for his editing skills because I understand how difficult it would've been.
If you love the Beat Generation, this is essential reading.