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Poetry was at the center of Jack Kerouac's sense of mission as a writer. This landmark edition brings together for the first time all Kerouac's major poetic works--Mexico City Blues, The Scripture of the Golden Eternity, Book of Blues, Poems All Sizes, Old Angel Midnight, Book of Haikus--along with a rich assortment of his uncollected poems, six published here for the first time. He wrote poetry in every period of his life, in forms as diverse as the classical Japanese haiku, the Buddhist sutra, the spontaneous prose poetry of Old Angel Midnight, and the poetic "blues" he developed in Mexico City Blues and other serial works, seeing himself as "a jazz poet blowing a long blues in an afternoon jam session on Sunday." Many poets found Kerouac a liberating influence on their work: Robert Creeley called him "a genius at the register of the speaking voice"; for Allen Ginsberg he was "a poetic influence over the entire planet"; and Bob Dylan said that Mexico City Blues was crucial to his own artistic development.
Jack Kerouac's lifelong dedication to poetry is showcased in this comprehensive collection, aiming to capture the essence of his diverse poetic output. The collection spans his entire career, featuring major works like Mexico City Blues and The Scripture of the Golden Eternity, alongside numerous uncollected poems, some appearing for the first time. Kerouac explored a wide array of forms, from Japanese haiku and Buddhist sutras to his signature spontaneous prose and blues-infused serial poems, viewing himself as a
This landmark edition is recognized for its comprehensive gathering of Jack Kerouac's poetic works, solidifying his status as a significant voice in 20th-century poetry. The collection's breadth, encompassing major published works and previously uncollected poems, offers a definitive look at his lifelong commitment to verse. Critics and fellow artists have long acknowledged Kerouac's profound influence, with Robert Creeley noting his "genius at the register of the speaking voice" and Allen Ginsberg asserting his "poetic influence over the entire planet." The impact of works like Mexico City Blues on artists such as Bob Dylan further underscores the enduring significance of Kerouac's poetic vision.
Page Count:
816
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
ISBN-10:
1598531948
ISBN-13:
9781598531947
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