Already a member?
Sign in
Welcome! Wikis are websites that everyone can build together. It's easy!
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac, writer born March 12, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts. Died in St. Petersburg, Florida on October 21, 1969, at age 47. Buried in Lowell, MA. Jack Kerouac wrote about life on the road, & off the road. He wrote about friends, places, people met on the road. He wrote in a manner that is described as poetic jazz, a saxophone blowing into the wind. He grew up in the town of Lowell, MA, moved to New York City to go to college, made his way to San Francisco, & eventually all points in-between. He was caught up in a world that included painters, musicians, writers & poets. Kerouac leaves behind a legacy that scholars & readers are still uncovering. There are new Kerouac books and journals being published. Kerouac, along with the other beats, are still the subject of biographies, movies, and critical reviews. The book On the Road scroll sold for a record breaking 2.2 million dollars in May 22, 2001. It is currently on tour around the United States. The New York City Public library in 2002 purchased a major portion of the Kerouac archive. Readers of Kerouac books have always recognized the attraction of his writing style, & his capacity to transform everyday events into sacred moments of beauty. He wrote in a honest manner, he conveyed his stories with a style that employed spontaneity & employed the idea of 'first thought, best thought.' Jack Kerouac has become, in the past 50 years, one of the most talked about creative forces. Unfortunately, he is still being kept hidden in the subterranean catacombs by the institutions of American Literature. They are slowly realizing that Kerouac was more than 'just typing' per Truman Capote, & are gradually accepting him into the ranks of "Great American Writers" as so many of his readers already have done. He has his share of critics. Not everything he did in his life was admirable. But what is not debatable is that he was committed to being a writer. We leave it up to the reader to decide what his place in history should be. There are other good reads as well - Dharma Bums, The Subterraneans, Tristessa, Dr Sax. Others like his poetry in Mexico City Blues & the more recent, Book Of Blues. The trip that Jack & Neal Cassady started hasn't ended for the rest of us. The general public may not be aware of Kerouac, but Kerouac continues to act as a lightening rod for the creative community seeking their own individualistic creative process. Catch your own ride, grab the golden ring, and hit the road because remember, you can't fall off a mountain. References:
www.rooknet.com/beatpage/writers/kerouac.html
www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/ontheroad
www.kirjasto.sci.fi/kerouac.htm
www.amazon.com/Road-Jack-Kerouac/dp/0140042598
www.levity.com/corduroy/kerouac.htm
Category:
Articles
Writers
Latest page update: made by Anonymous, Aug 20 2007, 2:20 PM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited anonymously
view changes
- complete history)
Edited anonymously
view changes
- complete history)
Keyword tags:
arts
Books
culture
economy
history
literature
neopoprealism
politics
More Info: links to this page