This was okay but it didn't keep me interested at all but it seemed to be well written. There were a couple parts that were decent but it didn't save it for me.

I'm the editor of Empty Mirror. We reviewed this book here: https://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/beat/allen-ginsberg-iron-curtain-journals

Since first reading Iron Curtain Journals, I've returned to it many times; it's a valued addition to my Beat Generation book collection.

This book was not what I was expecting.. It is well written but I was not 100% drawn in. There are parts that were very interesting like the sections on the halocost and his time in Cuba.

Iron Curtain Journals
January–May 1965
by Allen Ginsberg
University of Minnesota Press
Univ Of Minnesota Press
Biographies & Memoirs , Poetry
Pub Date 27 Nov 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Iron Curtain Journals Through University of Minnesota Press and Netgalley:


Somehow between jotting down first drafts of well known poems, to sharing ones that have not yet been seen, Ginsberg managed to get himself deported from Cuba, to of all places Prague where he finds himself once again unwelcomed.


Ginsberg wrote of his provocations and pranks, he writes of his encounters with other poets, as well as celebrities and curious citizens. He makes pointed often moving observations as he makes his way through Russian the land of his heritage to the Warsaw ghetto and even Aushwitz running from the Czech government as he circles back to Prague. He is warned to keep a low profile but does everything but.



I give Iron Currain Journals three out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I love Allen Ginsberg's poetry. I do not love Allen Ginsberg's journals. Rambling, full of TMI, at times nearly incomprehensible, and with mentions of people who we don't know whatsoever, this was a real trial to get through. The one part I did enjoy was the poems sprinkled throughout.

Reading Ginsberg has always been exciting. Some of these are a bit rough, unedited. Overall still enjoyable for anyone into beat writing.

Iron Curtain Journals are five months of the famous poet, Allen Ginsberg, during his travels in 1965 in Cuba and Europe. I really enjoyed reading through some of his random thoughts and I found the recording of his dreams quite fascinating. I believe that his more dedicated fans would find it a whole lot more enjoyable than I did!

I'm a huge fan of the beats and of Ginsberg, so I was super excited to read this one. It did not let me down. The essays gave a special look at his life and filled in a lot of gaps for me. Unfortunately, I don't think this could be a stand alone. I think you need to have some background knowledge of Ginsberg or else this book will fall short for you.

Allen Ginsberg’s “Iron Curtain Journals” is the first in a series of collected editions of late poet’s previously unpublished travel journals. I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book, in exchange for an honest review. The book is an intimate, unedited look at the thoughts and feelings of the man, during his time in Cuba, Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union, Poland, and a brief stopover in England, in 1965. Scattered among personal recounts of his daily activities are accounts of his dreams, as well as earlier versions of recognizable poems.
These were of course never intended to be published, and thus are occasionally fragmented and rough. But so long as you aren’t completely new to Ginsberg, “Iron Curtain Jouurnals” is worth a look.

Ginsberg is a famous American poet and this is a collection of journal entries by him that recount his thoughts and process of drafting the poems as well as his stay in Cuba and his journey to places like Prague, Russia, England, and India. The entries are raw and give a great insight into his life even though some are edited to fill in the gaps and during this process, some places are left blank [?] but that doesn't bring the honesty of the journals any notch down. There are political thoughts, ideologies and several sexual encounters being recounted in these journals and while it was all good to read, I do believe that you need to have a desire to know more about Ginsberg that would help you enjoy this a lot more. Unfortunately, I hadn't stepped into this with that mindset so the book lost two stars but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give this a try.

Iron Curtain Journals are five months of notes from Allen Ginsberg's travel to Cuba and Eastern Europe in 1965. There is a mixture of disappointment and excitement recorded in his journals. The writing style is typical of journals in recording experiences, feelings, and notes for future use. Ginsberg does not try to create a biography but rather a collection of impressions to spark later writings. Cuba is not the paradise he had expected. Freedom of speech and freedom to choose one's sexual partner were severely limited and could be punishable offenses. Although his poetry readings may be canceled Ginsberg does record his sexual conquests. Cuba seems to carry the dreariness of Eastern Europe which is his next destination. Eastern Europe again offers highs and lows. Ginsberg met with contemporary writers and was a cause of friction with local authorities.  He had trouble finding a line between freedom and politics.  

Allen Ginsberg's colorful nature is seen throughout his journal.  He is disenchanted with communism. It is not what he expected.  Art and lifestyle are restricted, and freedoms that are taken for granted are missed.  This collection is essential for understanding the man.  These are his words and thoughts and not someone's interpretation of them.  It is Ginsberg uncensored and unedited.  Anyone interested in the man will learn much more from his own words than in any biography.

A mix of random thoughts, travel journals, and early drafts of verse recorded during Ginsberg’s time Cuba and other communist countries during the cold war. As a casual fan of the poet’s works, I found some of the early drafts of well-known poems of interest, and a number of his exploits made for an entertaining read. I do think though, that more ardent fans of Ginsberg himself will get a lot more out of it.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to Netgalley and University of Minnesota Press.

A blend of travel journals and poetry in Ginsberg's sui genesis writing style.

Political, social, historical structures are seen through the poet's eyes and the both familiar and foreign landscape is depicted, along with the logs of his dreams and sexual adventures.