The Beats: A Graphic History by Pekar, Piskor, & Buhle (2009)

Yes, this is a graphic history of the Beat Movement.

Book Review: The Beats: A Graphic History is both good and bad, showing its good intentions, but badly failing in spots. Much like the Beat Movement itself. As is only to be expected, and as the authors note, this is not an in-depth study of the Beat Generation or its artistic offshoots. But it is generally wide ranging, including more names than I expected (DeFeo, Kupferberg, Patchen), and a tip of the hat for that. It is also more than just a cursory biography of the Beats mentioned, hitting a lot of the key moments in the artists' careers, and open to discussion of homosexuality among the Beats. Included are sections touching on related scenes such as art, jazz, and publishing.

There's even an acknowledgement of the well-known misogyny of the Beats (which was not unique to the Beats, the protest, Hippie, and Black Panther movements all had issues with sexism). To address this historical flaw, the book adds a section on "Beatnik Chicks" (focusing more on mates of the Beats, than artists), although the writer acknowledges that she "despised those ... women 'of the beat generation' because they had not liberated themselves." All well and good, and no one could say that any of the major Beats were women (sorry Diane di Prima, who is singled out here as the standard bearer for all women). Perhaps I'm self-indulgent, but in a book from 2009 it seems little to ask that a few other names that have been overlooked might be mentioned, perhaps Elise Cowen (mentioned here as a pathetic lesson rather than as an artist), Barbara Guest, Lenore Kandel, Joanne Kyger, Denise Levertov, Joanna McClure, Marie Ponsot, Anne Waldman ... just look through City Lights' publications. Well, that's my rant. Authors get to write the books they want. Just wish.

But I still like The Beats: A Graphic History, while not authoritative nor trying to be, it does a give a good quick overview of and introduction to the period. It's certainly a speedy and engaging read, as one might expect. With any luck the folks who read this will go on to seek out more, books of poetry, biographies, lengthier histories. More. [3★]