Publication
Souvenir Press Ltd (2009), Paperback, 208 pages
Physical description
208 p.; 8.9 inches
ISBN
0285638580 / 9780285638587
Language
Collections
Description
Details the history of the Beat movement, which began in the 1940s, and describes the lives of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William Burroughs; along with other writers, artists, and events in a graphic novel format.
User reviews
LibraryThing member kmaziarz
Up to this point, most of the graphic novels I’ve read have been either fictional stories or graphic memoirs such as “Maus” or “Persepolis.” So when I saw “The Beats: A Graphic History” on our new book cart, I decided to give it a try.
Having been a big fan of Beat Generation
This is definitely not a book aimed at people already familiar with Beat Generation literature and writers, but it would certainly serve as a good overview or introduction for those less informed and looking for a place to start.
Having been a big fan of Beat Generation
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literature in my teens, the lives of the literary movement’s main players…Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William S. Burroughs…was a subject with which I was already quite familiar. Perhaps due to this, I found the coverage of their lives in this title to be somewhat shallow, hitting only the main points. The accompanying art did little to further the story line as it would in a memoir more along the lines of “Maus;” instead, it served mainly as a point-by-point illustration of the text. Of more interest was the fact that this volume went beyond the “Big Three” and discussed, though briefly, the lives of other, more minor, players in the literary movement, including the little-known women Beats. This is definitely not a book aimed at people already familiar with Beat Generation literature and writers, but it would certainly serve as a good overview or introduction for those less informed and looking for a place to start.
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LibraryThing member KbookB
Tells the history of many of the people involved in what would come to be known as The Beats in graphic novel form. Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs became the most famous of this group of writers whose immediate, personal and experimental writing inspired artists beginning the
While a good section of the book deals with the Kerouac, Ginsgerg and Burroughs lives, many other members of The Beats are also talked about in less detail. While there is much repetition as their stories overlap, it is worth continuing in order to learn about the lesser know writers as well as how the Beats brought poetry and intellectual inquiry out of the classrooms and into cafes and bookstores.
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1960s.While a good section of the book deals with the Kerouac, Ginsgerg and Burroughs lives, many other members of The Beats are also talked about in less detail. While there is much repetition as their stories overlap, it is worth continuing in order to learn about the lesser know writers as well as how the Beats brought poetry and intellectual inquiry out of the classrooms and into cafes and bookstores.
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LibraryThing member ironicqueery
The Beats, a graphic novel, is divided up in multiple short comics written by an esteemed collection of artists and writers. For those already familiar with the more well-known Beats, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs, there isn't much new information to be found. Kerouac seems to
What follows after the main three is a wide range of examinations into lesser known Beat figures, including musicians, artists and publishers. This is where new information can be learned by both Beat enthusiasts and novices. My favorites were the stories on Kennth Patchen, Slim Brundage, Tuli Kupferberg, and a look at Beatnik Chicks.
The art in the book has nice variety thanks to the multitude of artists involved in the collection. There wasn't a badly drawn comic in the mix. Overall, The Beats is an excellent overview of the Beat generation, presented in an easy to read format that is also artistic and creative. While the depth of information doesn't go very deep, there are numerous jumping off points that can guide one to their own investigations.
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be written about in a more cynical manner, while Ginsberg is the hero of the bunch. The three main comics deal with each of these men. What follows after the main three is a wide range of examinations into lesser known Beat figures, including musicians, artists and publishers. This is where new information can be learned by both Beat enthusiasts and novices. My favorites were the stories on Kennth Patchen, Slim Brundage, Tuli Kupferberg, and a look at Beatnik Chicks.
The art in the book has nice variety thanks to the multitude of artists involved in the collection. There wasn't a badly drawn comic in the mix. Overall, The Beats is an excellent overview of the Beat generation, presented in an easy to read format that is also artistic and creative. While the depth of information doesn't go very deep, there are numerous jumping off points that can guide one to their own investigations.
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LibraryThing member poetontheone
This collaborative graphic novel is an elementary though wide ranging introduction to the Beat movement, covering everything from Kerouac and City Lights Books to d.a. levy and The Fugs. Though many writers and artists are at work here the sections disjointed, creating a unique symbiosis of voices,
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styles, and viewpoints that is informative without taking itself too seriously. Show Less
LibraryThing member KropotkinsLeftFoot
All of the histories are interesting and look beautiful. Particularly the history of Beat women and their relationships with so-called heroes of the generation. Very real and poignant.
LibraryThing member kencf0618
As varied and uneven as the Beats themselves, this graphic history gives a good sense of their milieux, foibles and accomplishments. The minor figures are of particular interest.
LibraryThing member AuntieClio
I loved this graphic novel!! It was a breathless read and definitely requires multiple re-readings. I get that way with the Beats. Books regarding them are inhaled like some kind of drug, nothing else gets any attention while I'm reading about my Beats.
The Beats: A Graphic Novel briefly covers the
If you are at all interested in learning a little something about the Beats, this is a good place to start.
The Beats: A Graphic Novel briefly covers the
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live's of the "big three"; Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. Then it covers a multitude of other topics including the San Francisco "Renaissance" and "Beatnik Chicks," the latter of which captured my soul. This book also covers many artists of the Beat Generation who are not so well known.If you are at all interested in learning a little something about the Beats, this is a good place to start.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Reading this book has been a labor of love. I really really really wanted to like it,and there were definitely parts that stood out but man was it a chore to get through.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
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which caused it to lose the "story" and high readability that nonfiction graphic novels usually have going for them. I also just felt overwhelmed by information at some points. The book is divided in two halves which are then further divided into information on different people, places and organizations.However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Reading this book has been a labor of love. I really really really wanted to like it,and there were definitely parts that stood out but man was it a chore to get through.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
Show More
which caused it to lose the "story" and high readability that nonfiction graphic novels usually have going for them. I also just felt overwhelmed by information at some points. The book is divided in two halves which are then further divided into information on different people, places and organizations.However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Reading this book has been a labor of love. I really really really wanted to like it,and there were definitely parts that stood out but man was it a chore to get through.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
Show More
which caused it to lose the "story" and high readability that nonfiction graphic novels usually have going for them. I also just felt overwhelmed by information at some points. The book is divided in two halves which are then further divided into information on different people, places and organizations.However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Reading this book has been a labor of love. I really really really wanted to like it,and there were definitely parts that stood out but man was it a chore to get through.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
The major fault of this book was definitely that it tried to accomplish too much. It tried to provide way too much information,
Show More
which caused it to lose the "story" and high readability that nonfiction graphic novels usually have going for them. I also just felt overwhelmed by information at some points. The book is divided in two halves which are then further divided into information on different people, places and organizations.However, it's not all bad. A lot of the book (especially towards the end of the second half) was beautifully illustrated, and the illustrations were terrific examples of Beat culture within themselves. Several of the stories near the end made me want to find out more about those particular places or people.
Basically I guess I feel like this book is a mixed bag. Some of it's great and some of it sucks. Also keep in mind who the Beats were and what they exemplified when reccommending this book to younger teens.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Tanya-dogearedcopy
This is an overview of several members of the Beat generation, most notably Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs - told in b&w comic book panels. It is a pretty good introduction to/about some free thinkers who inspired generations of poets, writers, musicians, and political activists. An interesting
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primer that will have readers looking for the works of those profiled within and/or visiting the iconic City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, CA with renewed appreciation. Show Less
LibraryThing member bjkelley
I really thought this would be better, but found most of it was uninteresting to me. I didn't read everything in the book, but skipped around looking for something that would be of interest to me - I think the short history of Tuli Kuperberg and The Fugs was the only thing I really enjoyed.
LibraryThing member bostonbibliophile
Some of it was interesting, some of it was boring. The last chapter is just printed too small- even with glasses it was illegible and so I didn't finish it. The larger sections on Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs just convinced me never to read their actual work, so in that sense the book was
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unsuccessful when it came to promoting them. As others have said the articles are uneven in terms of quality. Joyce Brabner's contribution was the best-written. Show Less
LibraryThing member over.the.edge
The Beats:A Graphic History🍒🍒🍒
2009
Hill & Wang/ Farrar,Straus & Giroux
This was a fun, simple overview of The Beat writers and their influence on other writers and artists. Focussing mainly on SF and NY, the obvious choices, I was glad to see Chicago mentioned as well.
The bios are brief and
The Beat movement was an interesting and intriguing group of thinkers, unfortunately most were cruel to women and abused drugs. The stories they tell fascinate and horrify.
Recommended.
2009
Hill & Wang/ Farrar,Straus & Giroux
This was a fun, simple overview of The Beat writers and their influence on other writers and artists. Focussing mainly on SF and NY, the obvious choices, I was glad to see Chicago mentioned as well.
The bios are brief and
Show More
look at their lives at large, the graphics are fantastic. My favorites are the first three: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. Diana DiPalma and Michael Mc Clure were good also.The Beat movement was an interesting and intriguing group of thinkers, unfortunately most were cruel to women and abused drugs. The stories they tell fascinate and horrify.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member mirikayla
I read On the Road five years ago, my first (and so far only) foray into the collective oeuvre of the Beat Generation. It wasn’t a huge success. But I’ve always had it in my head that I want to explore their work more, and I’m really into graphic biographies right now, so I was pretty excited
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about this. I liked it a lot, and I think the format was good, but the amount of focus given to the big three (Kerouac, Ginsberg, Burroughs) was a little much. Everyone knows those names already, and there were so many other artists involved in that movement who just got short little blurbs at the end. I especially wish there had been more about the women of the movement, because as it is, they really feel sidelined and lumped together as a subset. By which I mean there is a section called “Beat Chicks,” toward the very end of the book, where they are completely sidelined and lumped together as a subset. Obviously women artists weren’t respected in that time, and of course it’s normal for history to ignore them too, but if you’re making a point to include them already, how about really including them? My general impression after having read this: I want to read Ginsberg, Diane di Prima, Hettie Jones, Joyce Johnson, Joanne Kyger, Denise Levertov, Kenneth Patchen, Philip Whalen, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. I’ll probably give some more of Kerouac’s work a try. And I would really like to not read anything by that asshole William Burroughs, though I might still try Naked Lunch if I feel obligated to. Show Less