Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac is one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. He is known chiefly for his breakout novel On the Road, a relentless exploration of life on the road and the power of restlessness. He is also the author of books like The Dharma Bums and Desolation Angels, both of which were hugely influential in their own right.

Kerouac was born in 1923 in Lowell, Massachusetts to French-Canadian parents. At the age of five, Kerouac’s parents moved their family to the French-speaking city of Manchester, New Hampshire. Kerouac attended schools with a focus on French and was fluent in both French and English by age 12. He was exposed to literature during these years and developed an intense passion for it.

Kerouac studied at Columbia College from 1940 to 1942, where he took poetry classes from the poet Mark Van Doren. While at Columbia, Kerouac immersed himself in the New York City jazz scene and was influenced by bebop jazz music. He also became deeply interested in Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. After leaving Columbia, Kerouac traveled around the United States with his friends, which led him to write On the Road.

On the Road, published in 1957, is considered to be the basis of the Beat Generation canon. It follows the adventures of two friends, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty. The novel focuses on the idea of wanderlust, of a relentless search for freedom and self-discovery.

Kerouac wrote many other works during his life, including The Dharma Bums, Desolation Angels, and his most famous book, Big Sur. Another major work of his was Visions of Cody, the nonlinear 1960s masterpiece. He also wrote numerous poems and was the lyricist for the 1960s folk-rock band the Holy Modal Rounders.

Kerouac’s writing had a huge impact on the culture of the 1960s, not to mention its continuing impact today. He brought awareness to the search for identity and to the beauty of being alive and embracing life’s uncertainty. His writing has been interpreted as a call for freedom and an embracing of spontaneity and creativity.

In 1969, Kerouac passed away at the age of 47. But his legacy lives on in the many works of art, books, and films inspired by his writing. Though he may be gone, his words still inspire us to explore and live life to the fullest.