Historical Dictionary of the Beat Movement

Throughout the twentieth century new artistic and cultural movements originated and developed in the US, many of which spread in popularity throughout the world. The importance of this general trend was not only artistic, for it also resulted in the spread of the English language particularly amongst the young. US gave us the blues, jazz, and many forms of folk and popular music that were taken up and adapted, particularly in Britain and Europe. In the visual arts, whilst most developments in painting were taking place in Europe, Hollywood was commercialising the cinema, New York City was pushing skyscrapers higher...