The second title in the Gale Critical Companion Collection follows Harlem Renaissance [RBB Ap 15 03]. The series focuses on literary movements or themes and offers organized, annotated collections of reprinted criticism. Volume 1 of The Beat Generation covers "Topics": an overview, the East and West Coast scenes, publishing, and the Beats' influence on the performing and visual arts. Volumes 2 and 3 are devoted to people and contain entries on 29 major literary figures associated with the Beat movement. In all three volumes, entries follow the same formula. An introduction to the topic or author and list of representative works is followed by a selection of primary sources (reprinted essays, journal entries, poems, newspaper accounts, etc.). Next is a section of general secondary essays on the topic or author.
