Straight Around Allen: On the Business of Being Allen Ginsberg

by Bob Rosenthal

Allen Ginsberg was not just a poet; he was one of the most recognizable and outspoken public figures of the late twentieth century. From the mid-fifties onward, he was rarely out of the public consciousness as he raised civic and spiritual awareness for all causes large and small. He traveled the world, reading poetry in more than sixty countries, and managed to organize university degrees and mentor young poets.

Arranging Allen’s life took a team of dedicated and talented people, and of these people poet Bob Rosenthal worked as Allen's personal secretary for over two decades. In this intimate new book, he tells what it was like to be behind the scenes of the Allen Ginsberg industry. From first encounter to Ginsberg’s death, Rosenthal recounts the highs and lows of employment in the poet's circle, in a book that is in turns poignant and hilarious, and always fascinating.

177 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2018

Reviews

[Greg Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the top of my 2019 list, this book is much more than a chronicle of two decades working as Allen Ginsberg's assistant. A transformative tone threads through the narrative that draws from the bard and continues through the author's telling. The writing takes on the events and personalities and tames the act of response with a peaceful attitude that clued this reader into how better to deal with the world.

[Michael Cohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful reminiscence of what it was like to know and work for Allen Ginsberg

Bob Rosenthal's wonderful book about his many years of working as Allen Ginsberg's secretary and being the great poet's friend and caregiver is a treasure trove of heartfelt stories. Bob intersperses the book with photos, handwritten notes and documents that bring his experiences to.life. He also tells stories of what happened behind the scenes with Ginsberg's many mentors, friends and hangers-on, including his fellow beat writers like Gregory Corso and his lover Peter Orlovsky. The book has a fascinating layout too, with marginal notes accompanying the main text that act as a kind of gloss or counterpoint to the narrative. The book is highly recommended for fans of Ginsberg, the Beat writers and poets, and for a portrait of a bygone era on New York's Lower East Side. Just a great read too.

[JB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read to a lifelong fan of Ginsberg. Occasionally interrupted by odd personal details from Rosenthal, though many of these are interesting. Could have used a more thorough editorial pass: more typos than one would expect.