Harold Norse Quotes

A collection of quotes by Harold Norse.

Harold Norse (1916-2009) was an American poet, writer, and memoirist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a working-class Jewish family. Norse studied at Brooklyn College and later attended New York University.

In the 1940s, Norse became involved in the vibrant literary and artistic scenes of Greenwich Village and New York City. He became associated with the Beat Generation writers and poets, forging friendships with notable figures such as Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and Charles Bukowski.

Throughout his career, Norse published several poetry collections, including "The Undersea Mountain" (1953) and "Hotel Nirvana" (1974). His works often explored themes of love, sexuality, politics, and personal experiences. Norse was openly gay, and his writing frequently tackled issues of homosexuality and the oppression faced by the LGBTQ+ community.

In the 1950s, Norse moved to Europe, living in various countries such as Italy and France. During this time, he continued to publish poetry and also worked on his memoir, "Memoirs of a Bastard Angel" (1989), which chronicled his experiences in the Beat Generation and his personal relationships with other writers.

Harold Norse's writing remains influential in the Beat Generation literary movement and his contributions to LGBTQ+ literature. He passed away in San Francisco in 2009, leaving behind a body of work that continues to inspire readers and writers to this day.