Description
Author Elias Wilentz
Photographer: Fred McDarrah
Publisher Fred McDarrah
Format Paperback, 1960 edition
condition very good with some tear on cover. Some underlining.
Summary
The Beat Scene, edited by Elias Wilentz with striking photographs by Fred McDarrah, is a rare cultural time capsule that captures the pulse of the 1950s Beat Generation through poetry, prose, and imagery. Published in 1960 by Corinth Books, this paperback anthology features works by the most influential voices of the movement—Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Gregory Corso, Diane di Prima, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and many others. It's a raw, electric tribute to a countercultural revolution that reshaped American literature and consciousness.
This copy is a rare find—an original first printing with moderate condition notes: light underlining and a small tear along the back cover edge. Still, it remains a collector’s gem and a must-have for any serious Beat enthusiast or literary historian. The Beat Scene captures spontaneous creativity, rebellion against convention, and the soul of a generation yearning for authenticity. More than just an anthology, it's a living document of a movement that continues to inspire artists, poets, and dreamers.