Ginsberg was born into a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in nearby Paterson. He was the second son of Louis Ginsberg, also born in Newark, a schoolteacher and published poet, and the former Nao… See more

Ginsberg's willingness to talk about taboo subjects made him a controversial figure during the conservative 1950s, and a significant figure in the 1960s. In the mid-1950s, no reputable publishing company would eve… See more

Most of Ginsberg's very early poetry was written in formal rhyme and meter like that of his father, and of his idol William Blake. His admiration for the writing of Jack Kerouac inspired him to take poetry more seriously. I… See more

• Howl and Other Poems (1956), ISBN 978-0-87286-017-9
• Kaddish and Other Poems (1961), ISBN 978-0-87286-019-3
• Empty Mirror: Early Poems (1961), ISBN 978-0-87091-030-2… See more