Beat Generation: Glory Days in Greenwich Village

by Gloria S. McDarrah and Fred W. McDarrah

Book Overview

From clothing to literature, the Beat Generation has had an enormous impact on American culture. This work examines this most influential American social movement. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028645936
• ISBN13: 9780028645933
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Schirmer Trade Books
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 3.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.8" x 11.4"

Customer Reviews

Book that takes you to the heart of the 50s "Beat" scene.

This is a wonderful book filled with images of the beat coffeehouse hangouts in Greenwich village circa 50s and 60s. It is great to actually be able to view a photo of a poetry reading as it took place in one of these bohemian haunts. We are lucky that the author had the foresight to take photos in the smoke-filled coffeehouses and beat pads. I have a coffeehouse and the book is a great reference to utilize when trying to recapture the spirit and styling of the 50s coffeehouse.

"Beat Generation" worthy addition to any Beat collection

McDarrah's photograpic work evokes what it must have been like to frequent the bohemian scene of the late '50s and early '60's. Anyone who is greatly interested in the literature of this genre, but too young to have actual remembrances of this era, will find this work fascinating. Many of the photos have never been published before, and thus are a refreshing change from the standard photos of Kerouac, Ginsberg, and crew that have been served up so many times elsewhere. McDarrah, who I believe worked for the Village Voice at that time, has done a fine job in selecting the photos in this collection. My favorites are one of Diane DiPrima, perched on a piano reciting her poetry, and Herbert Huncke visiting Allen Ginsberg and attempting to fix the latter's broken TV. I also enjoyed the many pics of other accomplished, but lesser known figures of the era, and the establishments they frequented, such as the Cedars Bar & amp; Grill