Kerouac: Selected Letters
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Author Description
An “exhilarating” (Chicago Tribune) selection of Jack Kerouac’s most personal, truthful, and mesmerizing letters that trace his life and craft—edited by Ann Charters “As we just now begin to map fully the fallout of [the Beat Generation’s] creative explosion, these letters offer an invaluable blueprint to the intricate, high-yield ballistics that went into creating it.”—San Francisco Examiner It was in his letters that Jack Kerouac set down the raw material that he transmuted into his novels, exploring and refining the spontaneous prose style that became his trademark. The letters in this volume, written between 1940, when Kerouac was a freshman at college, and 1956, immediately before his breathless leap into celebrity with the publication of On the Road, offer invaluable insights into Kerouac’s family life, his friendships with Neal and Carolyn Cassady, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, and William S. Burroughs, his travels, love affairs, and literary apprenticeships. At once fascinating reading and a major addition to Kerouac scholarship, here is a rare portrait of the writer as a young adventurer of immense talent, energy, and ambition in the midst of writing and living an American legend.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
The correspondence of Jack Kerouac reveals the raw material and evolving craft behind his literary legend. This selection of letters, spanning from 1940 to 1956, offers an intimate look into Kerouac's personal life, his relationships with key figures of the Beat Generation, and the development of his signature spontaneous prose style. Edited by Ann Charters, the volume traces Kerouac's journey from his college years to the cusp of fame, providing insights into his family, travels, love affairs, and literary apprenticeships. It serves as both compelling reading and a significant contribution to Kerouac scholarship, presenting a portrait of a writer brimming with talent and ambition.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Letters written between 1940 and 1956, covering Kerouac's college years through to the publication of 'On the Road'.
- Insights into Kerouac's family life and personal relationships.
- Correspondence detailing friendships with notable figures such as Neal and Carolyn Cassady, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, and William S. Burroughs.
- Exploration of Kerouac's travels and love affairs.
- Documentation of his literary apprenticeships and the refinement of his spontaneous prose style.
- Primary source material for understanding the genesis of his novels.
- Edited and curated by literary scholar Ann Charters.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
This selection of Kerouac's letters has been praised for its personal insights and as a valuable resource for understanding his literary development. The Chicago Tribune described it as 'exhilarating,' while the San Francisco Examiner noted its importance as a 'blueprint' for the Beat Generation's creative output. The collection is recognized for offering a rare and intimate portrait of the writer during a formative period of his life and career. It is considered a significant addition to Kerouac scholarship, providing direct access to the writer's thoughts and experiences.
Page Count:
656
Publication Date:
1996-01-01
ISBN-10:
0140234446
ISBN-13:
9780140234442
Biography
Non-Fiction
Literary Criticism
Letters
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