I have benefited from the work of too many scholars, critics, and friends to mention, but all of them have my heartfelt thanks. I am particularly grateful to the gifted colleagues who talked with me about Beat literature and culture at Utah State University’s School of the Arts, which invited me to speak in the O. C. Tanner Symposium on “The 1950s, the Beat Generation, and the Power of Expression” in 2006. My perennial gratitude goes to the University Seminar on Cinema and Interdisciplinary Interpretation at Columbia University, where I spoke on the Beats long before I had the privilege of co-chairing this worthy organization with William G. Luhr, whose erudition knows no bounds. Peter Hale of the Allen Ginsberg Estate was extremely helpful with illustrations. It would be difficult to overpraise Nancy Toff and Sonia Tycko of Oxford University Press, who were skillful, patient, and efficient throughout this project. Thanks above all to Mikita Brottman, whose suggestions, advice, and support have been, as always, invaluable.