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.

Writing Career

Huncke himself was a natural storyteller, a unique character with a paradoxically honest take on life. Later, after the formation of the so-called Beat Generation, members of the Beats encouraged Huncke to publish his notebook writings, which he did with limited success in 1964 with Diane DiPrima's Poet's Press. (Huncke's Journal) Huncke used the word "Beat" to describe someone living roughly with no money and few prospects. Huncke was considered to have coined the phrase that eventually came to describe an entire generation. Jack Kerouac later insisted that "Beat" was derived from beatification, to be supremely happy. However, it is thought that this definition was a defense of the beat way of life, which was frowned upon and offended many American sensibilities.

Related Topics:
Beat Generation - Diane DiPrima - Poet's Press - Beatification

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Huncke died in 1996. He had been living for a number of years in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City, supported fiancially in old age by his friends, David Sands, Jerome Poynton, Tim Moran, Raymond Foye and many others including financial support from someone whom Huncke never met, Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead, who paid for his rent at the Hotel.

Related Topics:
1996 - Chelsea Hotel - David Sands - Jerome Poynton - Tim Moran - Raymond Foye - Jerry Garcia - The Grateful Dead

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~