Beat culture : icons, lifestyles, and impact

Summary: "On the Road. Naked Lunch. Howl. These iconic works of the Beat Generation capture the spirit of a time in the latter half of the 20th century when a new generation of writers, poets, musicians, and artists celebrated the inspiring individuality of Americans, explored America's immensity and diverse geography, and sought satisfaction in unrestrained experience. Simultaneously, many Beat artists questioned almost every social, cultural, and political convention in American life. With scholarly contributions from around the world, Beat Culture is the definitive guide to one of the most vibrant and challenging periods in American cultural and political history." "Sex and morality. Drugs and delinquency. War and peace. Madness and serene contemplation. These are all still contemporary concerns for young people and their parents, but the history of the Beat Generation shows that such considerations are far from new. This essential guide brings the movement that defined an era to a new audience and explains to today's generation of young people the ideas that motivated their parents and grandparents."--BOOK JACKET.