What Does the Beat Generation Mean? Read definitions by Jack Kerouac, Ann Charters, John Clellon Holmes, and Life Magazine.

Excerpt from Anne Charters' "The Portable Beat Reader" examines the adoption of the word "beat" for this literary movement.

Read an excerpt from the book, "This is the Beat Generation", by James Campbell. Find out how the Beats got the name "beatnik".

Salon magazine columnist reflects on his artistic falling-out with this literary movement and its writers.

Read about "soup" in Beat Generation writings. Explore Allen Ginsberg's references to soup in his poetry.

Reprint of an SF Weekly article retraces the beginnings and development of this literary movement.

Learn how the late San Francisco columnist coined the word "beatnik". Article from SF Gate.

Journal presents an essay on a Beat symposium organized by Allen Ginsburg, and reflects on this movement's cultural influence.

Read a detailed description of the 1994 Beat Generation Conference at New York University. Includes photos.

Read an essay that provides a detailed history of the Beat Generation and a look at Bohemian dialectic they created.

Read this University of Iowa essay on the Beats use of drugs. Includes related photographs.