26 January 2011 Last updated at 09:03

In pictures: Angelheaded Hipsters

Jack Kerouac makes a funny face while walking through the Lower East Side along East 7th Street, past a statue of Samuel Cox in Tompkins Square. September 1953.

A new exhibition of photographs by Allen Ginsberg providing a personal view of the American writers and artists who became known as the Beat Generation has opened at the National Theatre in London.

William S. Burroughs Firing Pistol, May 28, 1991

The exhibition gives the viewer a glimpse of the early years of Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs as their literary importance began to grow.

Bob Donlin, Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg, Robert LaVinge, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti stand outside Ferlinghetti's City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, California. 1956

The pictures feature Ginsberg's intimate circle of friends and also his New York peers and a small selection of works by other photographers.

Allen Ginsberg in his youth, working as a utility man on the SS John Blair in New York Harbor, October 30, 1947; text written by Allen Ginsberg. ca. 1947

Many of the prints include captions written by Ginsberg giving further insight into what was happening at the time.

Psychologist Timothy Leary and Neal Cassady in Bus

"Timothy Leary psychedelic research pioneer and Neal Cassady first meeting at Millbrook NY in Ken Kesey-Merry Pranksters' 'Further' bus which Neal'd driven crosscountry SF to NY via Texas before Fall 1964 presidentiad [presidential election]...

Ken Kesey's "Further" Bus at Gas Station, 1964

...with "A Vote For Goldwater is a Vote for Fun" logo. Painted large across bus side, LSD cool-aid pitcher in icebox. Neal scratching amphetamine itch in his driver's palm." Text by Allen Ginsberg

Beat Generation icon Neal Cassady and his love Natalie Jackson on Market Street in San Francisco in March 1955; text written by Allen Ginsberg.

Beat Generation icon Neal Cassady and his love Natalie Jackson on Market Street in San Francisco in March 1955, with added text written by Allen Ginsberg.

William Burroughs reading Saint-Jean Perse's Vents in Allen Ginsberg's New York City apartment in 1953.

William S Burroughs reading magazines, 28 May 1991.

Original caption: "Myself seen by William Burroughs, my new-bought Kodak Retina from Bowery hock-shop in his hand, our apartment roof Lower East Side between Avenues B & C, Tompkins Park trees under new antennae, Kerouac, Corso and Alan Ansen visited."

Allen Ginsberg backpacking in North Cascades National Park. between June and September 1965

Angelheaded Hipsters runs from 24 January – 20 March 2011 at the National Theatre, Southbank, London. All photos: The Allen Ginsberg Trust/Corbis

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In pictures: Angelheaded Hipsters

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