Gregory Corso: A Quick Biography and Helpful Links
Gregory Nunzio Corso was born in 1930 in Greenwich Village, New York. He was the son of two teenage Italian parents, one of which abandoned the family a year later. Maybe because of this unfortunate incident, Corso led a troubled childhood. He repeatedly ran away from orphanages, foster homes, and eventually his actual home. At the age of twelve he was sent to the New York City jail for selling a stolen radio. At sixteen he was sentenced to three years in the Clinton State Prison for theft. However, while he served his sentence, Corso began reading poetic classics, and it was there in the Clinton State Prison where he started writing poems. And, after being released from prison, the young poet began to turn his life around. In fact, the year of his release he met Allen Ginsberg, another famous Beat poet, who introduced him to contemporary, experimental poetry. Because of this, Corso's work is often associated with Ginsberg's.
I chose Gregory Corso as my poet for my final project not only because of his poetic style, but also because of his interesting life story. If you too find Corso's biography interesting, then you should follow the links below to more in-depth biographies. I have provided a one-paragraph annotation for each link in order to offer some direction.
I chose Gregory Corso as my poet for my final project not only because of his poetic style, but also because of his interesting life story. If you too find Corso's biography interesting, then you should follow the links below to more in-depth biographies. I have provided a one-paragraph annotation for each link in order to offer some direction.
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The above link will take you to the Poets.org biography for Gregory Corso. This biography is a fairly short summary, and consists of four paragraphs. It includes important dates in Corso's life, as well as the names of famous Beat poets he met and was influenced by (such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti). On the left-hand side of the page are links to further readings, which are helpful as well. These links include articles related to Corso, biographies of other Beat poets, and tributes (such as poems) to Corso.
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The above link will take you to the Poetry Foundation biography for Gregory Corso. This is a lengthy, in-depth biography that consists of fourteen paragraphs. It includes topics such as the Beat Movement, Corso's first poetry book, reviews of Corso's poetry, quotes by Corso, influencers of Corso (such as Bysshe Shelley, Allen Ginsberg, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis), and titles given by other Beat Poets to Corso (such as the "awakener of youth"). At the end of the page is a list of further readings, which include books and periodicals written about Corso. At the end and top of the page are links to poems and articles written by Corso.