Obituary

Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg, who howled about life in America, died on April 5th, aged 70

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WHEN Allen Ginsberg was being shown around an Oxford college he asked to see the rooms Shelley had used. His companion was uncertain of their whereabouts, but pointed hopefully to a door. Mr Ginsberg entered, dropped to his knees and kissed the carpet, much to the surprise of the occupant, who was making tea. Shelley would have been amused. He would have recognised a fellow romantic and quite likely invited him along to meet Keats and Byron. And as a connoisseur of dope, the American must have a chat with De Quincey about the virtues of opium.

This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “Allen Ginsberg”

Obituary April 12th 1997

A bad time to be an ostrich

From the April 12th 1997 edition

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