Herbert Huncke

Herbert Huncke (January 9, 1915 – August 8, 1996) was a rare blend of sub-culture icon, writer, homosexual pioneer (he participated in Alfred Kinsey's studies), drug addict, common criminal, friend and enemy to America's most important social movements of the 20th century. He lived a remarkable, and yet all-too-human, life spending decades incarcerated and decades more writing and contributing to the Beat Generation among other artistic endeavours.

Early Life

Born and reared in Chicago, Herbert Huncke was a street hustler, high school drop out and drug addict who lived the lifestyle described by Jack Black (author) in his autobiography You Can't Win. The book—and Huncke's life—was centered around living as an outlaw hobo, jumping trains across the vast expanse of the United States, bonding through a shared destitution and comraderie with other hoboes of all walks of life. Although Huncke later came to regret his loss of family ties, in his autobiography, Guilty of Everything, he states his lenghty jail sentences were a partial result of his lack of family support. Huncke left Chicago as a teenager after his parents divorced.

Related Topics:
Chicago - Hustler - High school - Jack Black (author) - You Can't Win - Hobo - United States - Autobiography

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