Description
About the Author
Jonah Raskin is Professor and Chair of Communication Studies at Sonoma State University. Among other books, he is author of For the Hell of It: The Life and Times of Abbie Hoffman (California, 1997) and My Search for B. Traven (1980).
Reviews
"American Scream . . . seeks successfully, refreshingly to restore attention to Ginsberg's masterwork, a 3,600-word three-part salvo that shook the world of poetry, as well as the world of Postwar America. A masterful synthesis. Raskin unearths a wealth of new material and insight [and] manages to maintain the perfect balance of subjective enthusiasm and appreciation with an objective distance and clarity . . . Raskin performs an admirable act of literary restoration, crafting a proper appreciation for 'Howl' and its placement within the canon of 20th century American literature." * San Francisco Chronicle *
"This book is a pleasure to read. . . . Raskin captures wonderfully Ginsberg's feverish hunger for poetry and glory." * The Nation *
"Raskin thoughtfully investigates Cold War culture, beatnik behavior, and the confluence of characters, ideas, and personal history that made 'Howl' possible. American Scream is an engaging book." * Booklist *
"An excellent study of the poem in the context of its time and culture; highly recommended." * Library Journal *
"Reads like a novel . . . Though Raskin's tone is partisan, he writes as an evenhanded (and erudite) student of literature, politics, and culture. [Raskin rescues] the Beats from social caricature or obscurity, returning them to political and cultural relevance." * SF Station *
"Presents the kind of determined and insightful examination in to the mind and world of Allen Ginsberg that both Ginsberg and 'Howl' deserve." * Poetry Flash *
"Essential reading . . . Raskin has shaped an enormous amount of research . . . into a compelling inside look at Ginsberg." * Northern California Bohemian *
Book Information
ISBN 9780520246775
Author Jonah Raskin
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 210mm * 140mm * 20mm