Allen Ginsberg Poetry Readings & Lectures on Audio

Allen Ginsberg's Howl is the ultimate beat poem, and what better way to experience it than listening to Ginsberg read it himself. PennSound features two recordings of Ginsberg reading Howl, one from 1956 (the year he published it) and one from 1995 (a few years before his death).

Allen Ginsberg class on Beat literary history of the 1950's, discussing William S. Burroughs's book Junky and his first meeting with Herman Hunke.

Allen Ginsberg reads "What would you do if you lost it?" at 92Y on February 26, 1973. This recording kicks off the Dave Nolan Poetry Series, in honor of our beloved audio archivist who passed away in 2010.

"First thought, best thought”—that was the phrase that poet Allen Ginsberg used to describe spontaneous and fearless writing—a way of “telling the truth” that arises from naked and authentic experience.

In this archive lecture from Naropa University recorded in 1984, beat poets Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs discuss their views on writing.

First half of a class with Allen Ginsberg discussing vividness and close observation in writing, particularly the writers who do it, including Walt Whitman, haiku, Jack Kerouac, Reznikoff, Imagists and William Carlos Williams.

An interview with William S. Burroughs for Loka magazine with additional commentary by Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman.

An Anne Waldman and Allen Ginsberg poetry reading. Waldman reads "Fast Speaking Woman" and other poems. Ginsberg reads "Howl" in its entirety, and other poems.

Witchita Vortex Sutra is Ginsberg's epic poem about the Vietnam War written in 1966....

First half of a class by Allen Ginsberg on William Carlos Williams and prosody.