The Life and Work of Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac had an influence on a whole generation of Americans following the publication of On the Road,
which is his semi-autobiographical book that became the bible of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. Kerouac's
impact was still there in the next ten years as the movement grew during the 1960s. His free-thinking style
influenced his work. His name was Jean-Louis Lebrid de Kerouac. He was born to French-Canadian parents on
March 12, 1922, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Kerouac used to speak French only until he was seven years old. His
French-Canadian and Roman Catholic background had a strong influence on him throughout his life., he was an
excellent student in school despite being somewhat rebellious. He was also a gifted athlete and won a football
scholarship to Columbia University in 1940. . (Legend) and Kerouac, 1957)
He lived in New York City and attended school for two years then dropped out of campus and joined the
Merchant Marines. Later, he joined the U.S. Navy. However, Kerouac was not in good terms with the Navy's strict
laws and routine that was highly disciplined. He got an honor early discharge for his indifferent traits. He returned
to college in New York where he was awarded some other writers and smart minds who later had a significant
influence on his life. Writers Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and William Burroughs,
together with Kerouac and Neal Cassady, their ally, would become the heart of what had gained terming as the
Beat Generation.
He met Cassady in 1944 and embarked on many road trips. He traveled to Colorado, California, and Mexico. The
tours and his friendship with Neal were the basis for On The Road which was published in 1957 which was ten
years after he commenced note making for the novel. Kerouac's many allies appeared as characters in the book,
though he changed their names and some of their lives details. Allen Ginsberg (Carlo Marx), William Burroughs
(Old Bull Lee), Neal Cassady (Dean Moriarty), and Kerouac himself (Sal Paradise) were all critical players in the
novel's wild story. It was in April April when Kerouac wrote the first complete version of On The Road during a
busy three-week writing stint when he wrote the entire book on a single roll of paper. He later described this
method as "sketching" or "spontaneous prose," a tactic that would be the hallmark of all his subsequent work.
Still, Kerouac retained his profile in the six years between the completion of On The Road and its eventual
publication, writing many novels which he considered to be one long story about his dynasty and pals. In 1957,
Kerouac's tactic of writing and the controversial subject matter was seen by many as outrageous and offensive.
On publishing it, On The Road got crazily mixed reviews with some critics talking good about the author's bold
style and causing research of American society and values. However, others would not praise Kerouac’s effort as a
baseless series of crime filled with petty criminals and addicts. Most critics had never seen anything similar to the
Road, they refuted its existence as art and stated it as a ‘Beat Generation’ trend of rebellion and immoral
practices.
On The Road was a bestseller for months and Kerouac became a celebrity despite the mixed reviews. He was
never comfortable with the role; however, it became his most famous book. Kerouac had a tough time handling
the status of his work and also his growing popularity. In 1958 Kerouac published The Dharma Bums, a novel
about his ally Gary Snyder. He was successful and a celebrity; however, made it difficult for Kerouac to complete
other works. He had a stack of manuscripts that were not published. Only samples of his work were published in
the next few years. In 1962, Kerouac finished a new book, Big Sur, that talked about the adverse effects of being
famous on his job and personal life. In the 1960s, though, Kerouac moved away from public eyes. He passed on in
1969 after struggling with a stomach illness, which was caused by his alcoholism. . (Legend) and Kerouac, 1957)
