American Scream : Allen Ginsberg's Howl and the Making of the Beat Generation

Written as a cultural weapon and a call to arms, __Howl__ touched a raw nerve in Cold War America and has been controversial from the day it was first read aloud nearly fifty years ago. This first full critical and historical study of __Howl__ brilliantly elucidates the nexus of politics and literature in which it was written and gives striking new portraits of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs. Drawing from newly released psychiatric reports on Ginsberg, from interviews with his psychiatrist, Dr. Philip Hicks, and from the poet's journals, __American Scream__ shows how __Howl__ brought Ginsberg and the world out of the closet of a repressive society. It also gives the first full accounting of the literary figures—Eliot, Rimbaud, and Whitman—who influenced __Howl,__ definitively placing it in the tradition of twentieth-century American poetry for the first time. As he follows the genesis and the evolution of __Howl,__ Jonah Raskin constructs a vivid picture of a poet and an era. He illuminates the development of Beat poetry in New York and San Francisco in the 1950s--focusing on historic occasions such as the first reading of __Howl__ at Six Gallery in San Francisco in 1955 and the obscenity trial over the poem's publication. He looks closely at Ginsberg's life, including his relationships with his parents, friends, and mentors, while he was writing the poem and uses this material to illuminate the themes of madness, nakedness, and secrecy that pervade __Howl.__ A captivating look at the cultural climate of the Cold War and at a great American poet, __American Scream__ finally tells the full story of __Howl__—a rousing manifesto for a generation and a classic of twentieth-century literature. Publisher's Description: Written As A Cultural Weapon And A Call To Arms, Howl Touched A Raw Nerve In Cold War America And Has Been Controversial From The Day It Was First Read Aloud Nearly Fifty Years Ago. This First Full Critical And Historical Study Of Howl Brilliantly Elucidates The Nexus Of Politics And Literature In Which It Was Written And Gives Striking New Portraits Of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, And William Burroughs. Drawing From Newly Released Psychiatric Reports On Ginsberg, From Interviews With His Psychiatrist, Dr. Philip Hicks, And From The Poet's Journals, American Scream Shows How Howl Brought Ginsberg And The World Out Of The Closet Of A Repressive Society. It Also Gives The First Full Accounting Of The Literary Figures--eliot, Rimbaud, And Whitman--who Influenced Howl, Definitively Placing It In The Tradition Of Twentieth-century American Poetry For The First Time. As He Follows The Genesis And The Evolution Of Howl, Jonah Raskin Constructs A Vivid Picture Of A Poet And An Era. He Illuminates The Development Of Beat Poetry In New York And San Francisco In The 1950s--focusing On Historic Occasions Such As The First Reading Of Howl At Six Gallery In San Francisco In 1955 And The Obscenity Trial Over The Poem's Publication. He Looks Closely At Ginsberg's Life, Including His Relationships With His Parents, Friends, And Mentors, While He Was Writing The Poem And Uses This Material To Illuminate The Themes Of Madness, Nakedness, And Secrecy That Pervade Howl. A Captivating Look At The Cultural Climate Of The Cold War And At A Great American Poet, American Scream Finally Tells The Full Story Of Howl--a Rousing Manifesto For A Generation And A Classic Of Twentieth-century Literature. Poetickall Bomshell -- Family Business -- Trilling-esque Sense Of Civilization -- Juvinescent Savagery -- Just Like Russia -- Ladies, We Are Going Through Hell -- Another Coast's Apple For The Eye -- Mythological References -- Famous Authorhood -- This Fiction Named Allen Ginsberg -- Best Minds. Jonah Raskin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 231-262) And Index. Written as a cultural weapon and a call to arms, Howl touched a raw nerve in Cold War America and has been controversial from the day it was first read aloud nearly fifty years ago. This first full critical and historical study of Howl brilliantly elucidates the nexus of politics and literature in which it was written and gives striking new portraits of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs. Drawing from newly released psychiatric reports on Ginsberg, from interviews with his psychiatrist, Dr. Philip Hicks, and from the poet's journals, American Scream shows how Howl brought Ginsberg and the world out of the closet of a repressive society. It also gives the first full accounting of the literary figuresEliot, Rimbaud, and Whitmanwho influenced Howl, definitively placing it in the tradition of twentieth-century American poetry for the first time. As he follows the genesis and the evolution of Howl, Jonah Raskin constructs a vivid picture of a poet and an era. He illuminates the development of Beat poetry in New York and San Francisco in the 1950s--focusing on historic occasions such as the first reading of Howl at Six Gallery in San Francisco in 1955 and the obscenity trial over the poem's publication. He looks closely at Ginsberg's life, including his relationships with his parents, friends, and mentors, while he was writing the poem and uses this material to illuminate the themes of madness, nakedness, and secrecy that pervade Howl. A captivating look at the cultural climate of the Cold War and at a great American poet, American Scream finally tells the full story of Howl a rousing manifesto for a generation and a classic of twentieth-century literature. Acknowledgments......Page 10 Preface: Allen Ginsberg's Genius......Page 12 1. Poetickall Bomshell......Page 28 2. Family Business......Page 52 3. Trilling-esque Sense of "Civilization"......Page 71 4. Juvenescent Savagery......Page 92 5. Just Like Russia......Page 108 6. Ladies, We Are Going through Hell......Page 131 7. Another Coast's Apple for the Eye......Page 148 8. Mythological References......Page 170 9. Famous Authorhood......Page 185 10. This Fiction Named Allen Ginsberg......Page 216 11. Best Minds......Page 236 Notes and Sources......Page 258 h......Page 290 In September 1955, Garry Snyder-then a twenty-five-year-old unpublished poet and graduate student-wrote to his friend and fellow poet Philip Whalen in Oregon to say that he had been backpacking in the Sierras for ten days and that he'd thoroughly enjoyed the isolation of the outdoors.