Johannes
Founding member
Am reading the collected correspondence of the Beats right now.
First the letters of William S. Burroughs to Ginsberg, then the letters of Burroughs to everybody, then the Yage Letters. Now I am reading the letters of Ginsberg to Kerouac and vice versa.
While the Kerouac and Ginsberg of these letters clearly were two sensitive young men exploding with unique creativity, I have to say I find their letters terribly longwinded and at times boring and conceited. Burroughs, compared to their wailings, seems like a razor cutting through bullshit - sharp, clear sighted, often very very funny.
Which brings me to the question: Whose correspondence did you enjoy reading?
My tipps are:
Bukowski (who would have guessed?)
Henry Miller
Letters of the Marquis de Sade to his wife
Burroughs
First the letters of William S. Burroughs to Ginsberg, then the letters of Burroughs to everybody, then the Yage Letters. Now I am reading the letters of Ginsberg to Kerouac and vice versa.
While the Kerouac and Ginsberg of these letters clearly were two sensitive young men exploding with unique creativity, I have to say I find their letters terribly longwinded and at times boring and conceited. Burroughs, compared to their wailings, seems like a razor cutting through bullshit - sharp, clear sighted, often very very funny.
Which brings me to the question: Whose correspondence did you enjoy reading?
My tipps are:
Bukowski (who would have guessed?)
Henry Miller
Letters of the Marquis de Sade to his wife
Burroughs