The Beat Generation

The engine behind the first modern counterculture, the Beat Generation were a revolutionary group of American writers in the late 50s and early 60s who fused a fresh approach to literature with a bohemian lifestyle. Immortalized through Kerouac’s On the Road and Ginsberg’s Howl, their relaxed, gritty, and candid writing has inspired generations. Chronicling the group’s origins, adventures, and inner workings, Gair introduces iconic personalities including Ginsberg, Kerouac, and Burroughs, along with women writers, musicians, and artists. Examining their monumental influence upon popular culture from bebop to the Beastie Boys, Gair proves beyond any doubt that their revolutionary approach to literature and life has created a key movement in American literature. Christopher Gair is Senior Lecturer in American Literature at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom.