Difference between revisions of "Allen Ginsberg"
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[[Image:UploaddammitGinsberg.jpg|thumb|right|Allen Ginsberg]] | [[Image:UploaddammitGinsberg.jpg|thumb|right|Allen Ginsberg]] | ||
| − | '''Allen Ginsberg''', one of America's best known poets<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html</ref>, was born June 3, 1926, in [[Newark]], [[New Jersey]]. Along with others such as [[Jack Kerouac]] and [[William S. Burroughs]], he became part of what was dubbed the "Beat Generation" of writers. He died of liver cancer on April | + | '''Allen Ginsberg''', one of America's best known poets<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html</ref>, was born June 3, 1926, in [[Newark]], [[New Jersey]]. Along with others such as [[Jack Kerouac]] and [[William S. Burroughs]], he became part of what was dubbed the "Beat Generation" of writers. |
| + | Ginsberg was a major advocate for freedom of expression throughout his life, and is most famous for his long poem, "Howl," which drew national attention in 1956 when it was challenged on obscenity charges. | ||
| + | He died of liver cancer on April 5, 1997.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm</ref> Ginsberg was also a fervent supporter of gay rights, and an anti-war, anti-nuclear and environmental activist, and is known for his controversial behavior. He was widely criticised, even by friends and allies, when he joined the notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association, or [[NAMBLA]].<ref>http://www.ijn.com/archive/2002%20arch/062102.htm#story8</ref> In "Thoughts on NAMBLA," Ginsberg explains his reasons for joining the organisation: "NAMBLA's a forum for reform of those laws on youthful sexuality which members deem oppressive, (it is) a discussion society not a sex club. I joined NAMBLA in defense of free speech."<ref>Bill Morgan, ed., ''Deliberate Prose: Selected Essays 1952-1995.'' New York: HarperCollins (2000), ISBN 0-06-093081-0 (p.170)</ref> When he felt his point had been made--that free speech should be afforded even those with unpopular viewpoints--he quit the organisation. | ||
His most famous works include: | His most famous works include: | ||
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*[http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15307 "Kaddish"] | *[http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15307 "Kaddish"] | ||
| − | He studied at [[Columbia University]] in the 1940s and moved to [[San Fransisco]] in 1954.<ref>http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/8</ref> ''Howl and Other Poems'' was published in 1956, and in May that year | + | He studied at [[Columbia University]] in the 1940s and moved to [[San Fransisco]] in 1954.<ref>http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/8</ref> ''Howl and Other Poems'' was published in 1956, and in May of that year, US Customs seized a shipment of the books as they were being sent from the printer (Villiers in London) to City Lights Books in San Francisco. After federal authorities declined Customs Chief Chester McPhee's urging to pursue obscenity charges, the matter was referred to the [[San Francisco Police Department]], who arrested publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti, charging him with publishing and selling an obscene and indecent book. The charge was rejected in October 1957 after a widely publicized trial when Judge Clayton Horn ruled that the book had redeeming social value.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm</ref> |
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| + | During the trial, Ginsberg was living in [[Paris]] with his partner Peter Orlovsky. They remained together for forty years, until Ginsberg's death.<ref>http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 23:32, October 10, 2008
Allen Ginsberg, one of America's best known poets[1], was born June 3, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey. Along with others such as Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs, he became part of what was dubbed the "Beat Generation" of writers. Ginsberg was a major advocate for freedom of expression throughout his life, and is most famous for his long poem, "Howl," which drew national attention in 1956 when it was challenged on obscenity charges. He died of liver cancer on April 5, 1997.[2] Ginsberg was also a fervent supporter of gay rights, and an anti-war, anti-nuclear and environmental activist, and is known for his controversial behavior. He was widely criticised, even by friends and allies, when he joined the notorious North American Man-Boy Love Association, or NAMBLA.[3] In "Thoughts on NAMBLA," Ginsberg explains his reasons for joining the organisation: "NAMBLA's a forum for reform of those laws on youthful sexuality which members deem oppressive, (it is) a discussion society not a sex club. I joined NAMBLA in defense of free speech."[4] When he felt his point had been made--that free speech should be afforded even those with unpopular viewpoints--he quit the organisation.
His most famous works include:
He studied at Columbia University in the 1940s and moved to San Fransisco in 1954.[5] Howl and Other Poems was published in 1956, and in May of that year, US Customs seized a shipment of the books as they were being sent from the printer (Villiers in London) to City Lights Books in San Francisco. After federal authorities declined Customs Chief Chester McPhee's urging to pursue obscenity charges, the matter was referred to the San Francisco Police Department, who arrested publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti, charging him with publishing and selling an obscene and indecent book. The charge was rejected in October 1957 after a widely publicized trial when Judge Clayton Horn ruled that the book had redeeming social value.[6]
During the trial, Ginsberg was living in Paris with his partner Peter Orlovsky. They remained together for forty years, until Ginsberg's death.[7]
References
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/08/specials/ginsberg-obit.html
- ↑ http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm
- ↑ http://www.ijn.com/archive/2002%20arch/062102.htm#story8
- ↑ Bill Morgan, ed., Deliberate Prose: Selected Essays 1952-1995. New York: HarperCollins (2000), ISBN 0-06-093081-0 (p.170)
- ↑ http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/8
- ↑ http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm
- ↑ http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/g_l/ginsberg/life.htm