Beat Voices

Back in 1960, before he began writing for children, Newbery Honor author Kherdian (The Road from Home) carved out a berth for himself among the Beat poets of San Francisco; as he writes in his introduction to this highly personal anthology, he was among the first to publish articles about their work, and he knew the central figures intimately. Here he highlights the rebellious and bohemian spirit of the times with poems by Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Diane di Prima and many others. With an essay by Holt editor Marc Aronson, brief biographical sketches of the poets and an excellent bibliography, this book offers a lively and historically useful entree to the Beat movement. In Kherdian's view, the '50s and early '60s comprise ``the last period'' in which poetry ``that is alive, that breathes, that touches our soul'' was written. While his selection does not always reflect the best work of individual poets, the volume itself plunges the reader into the teeming life of the ``angelheaded hipsters'' (Ginsberg) who watch ``the world walk by in its curious shoes'' (Lawrence Ferlinghetti). Ages 14-up. (May)