Howl Original Draft Facsimile, Transcript, and Variant Versions, Fully Annotated by Author, with Contemporaneous Correspondence, Account of First Public Reading, Legal Skirmishes, Presursor Texts, and Bibliography
First published in 1956, Allen Ginsberg's Howl is a prophetic masterpiece—an epic raging against dehumanizing society that overcame censorship trials and obscenity charges to become one of the most widely read poems of the century. This annotated version of Ginsberg's classic is the poet's own re-creation of the revolutionary work's composition process—as well as a treasure trove of anecdotes, an intimate look at the poet's writing techniques, and a veritable social history of the 1950s.
Reviews
शीतल@sheetal
If this poem does not gives us an insight on the Beatniks, then I do not know what will. The poem has multiple references about the Beats' lifestyle--in detail--and why they did what they did. A befitting reply to the judgemental ones. Personally, I would not want the readers to be inspired by the Beatniks. The poet gives a very satisfying reason as to why they were so messed up and the way they reacted to things were pretty sad. The concepts of poverty, homosexuality, spirituality, respecting all religions, drugs, re-questioning the norms, capitalism, racism, nature are discussed very well. However, the poet fails to represent a female Beatnik. Perhaps, a misogynist? Good job by the poet, Allen Ginsberg, a beatnik himself.
Dennis Jacob Rosenfeld@rosenfeld
Amy L Hamilton@amyl60
Emily Perkovich@undermeyou