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Photo of Allen Ginsberg

Photo: Hans van Dijk for Anefo / CC0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Allen Ginsberg

American playwright

June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997 · Paterson, New Jersey, United States

  • New Jersey
  • playwright
  • poet
  • writer

Allen Ginsberg, born on June 3, 1926 in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, was a playwright, poet and writer. Death is recorded on April 5, 1997, at the age of 70. Education on record includes Eastside High School and Montclair State University. Recorded honors include Guggenheim Fellowship, National Book Award (1974), War Resisters League Peace Award and 4 more. Credited works include Howl, Kaddish and The Fall of America: Poems of These States.

My Take

Reading Howl for the first time felt like having a window kicked open. Ginsberg stood at the dead center of the Beat Generation and wrote as if politeness were a cage to be torn apart. What grips me is the rawness; he didn't polish his lines into ornaments, he hurled lived experience onto the page. Even after winning the National Book Award, he never traded in his outsider stance, and that consistency is its own kind of bravery. He taught me that poetry can be a weapon rather than decoration. Decades on, his work hasn't lost an ounce of its charge.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Allen Ginsberg
Name (Japanese)
アレン・ギンズバーグ
Reading
あれん・ぎんずばーぐ
Born
June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Gemini / Tiger
Origin
Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Occupation
playwright / poet / writer / autobiographer / screenwriter

2. Background

High school
Eastside High School
University
Montclair State University

Awards & achievements

  • Guggenheim Fellowship
  • 1974 National Book Award
  • War Resisters League Peace Award
  • 1974 National Book Award for Poetry
  • 1986 Robert Frost Medal
  • 1986 Golden Wreath
  • 1993 John Jay Award

3. Works & records

CategoryTitleRoleYear
Notable workHowl
Notable workKaddish
Notable workThe Fall of America: Poems of These States

5. About this entry

Tags

  • New Jersey
  • playwright
  • poet
  • writer
Last updated
2026-06-16

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Allen Ginsberg born?

Born June 3, 1926.

When did Allen Ginsberg die?

Died April 5, 1997, aged 70.

Where was Allen Ginsberg from?

Allen Ginsberg was from Paterson, New Jersey, United States.

What did Allen Ginsberg do?

Allen Ginsberg worked as playwright, poet, writer, autobiographer, screenwriter.

What was Allen Ginsberg known for?

Notable works include Howl, Kaddish, The Fall of America: Poems of These States.

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