Allen Ginsberg was one of the most recognisable public figures of the 20th century, and one of the most important American poets of all time. Yet he was also a seasoned traveller, capable of spending months or even years on the road, surviving on his wits. For Ginsberg, travel was more than a frivolous hobby; it was something that shaped him as a poet, an activist, and a person. Without visiting Mexico in 1954, there would have been no “Howl”. Without visiting France in 1958, there would have been no “Kaddish”. Without visiting India in 1963, the image of Allen Ginsberg as a bearded hippie sage chanting mantras with finger symbols would simply not have existed. In World Citizen, David S. Wills presents a new biography of Allen Ginsberg – one told through the prism of travel. Ginsberg’s life is recounted journey by journey, his development as a traveller meticulously recorded, and the influence of travel on his poetry noted for the first time. Scottish Book of the Week: This is a very accomplished and intelligentbook that presents a chance to further develop the understanding we have of one of the most influential men of the modern literary world. WorldCitizen: Allen Ginsberg as Traveller is, like Ginsberg himself, uniqueand just as fascinating. - The Courier David S. Wills's World Citizen: Allen Ginsberg as Traveller offers a pleasant, thoroughly researched and convincing account of the poet's travels and their relevance to his writing [...] the book itself provides an excellent, concise, and eminently readable guide to this aspect of the life of one of the twentieth century's most famous poets. - American Book Review (May/June 2021)