Publisher: Viking Press Year of edition: 2000 Language: English Rating: 10
"On the Road" stands with works such as Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" and William S. Burroughs' "Naked Lunch" as one of the seminal works of the beat movement. The semi-autobiographical book follows Kerouac (characterised as Sal Paradise) on various roadtrips through post-war America; searching for the unrestrained freedom he sees personified in the reckless, charismatic Neal Cassady (characterised as Dean Moriarty). Though often seen as a prelude to the beatnik and hippie counter-culture movements of the following decades, Kerouac actually intended the story about he and Cassady searching for (and finding) God, in every corner of their country- Kerouac being a self-described "beatific Catholic mystic". Not seeking any kind of spiritual revelation myself; this book for me is an uplifting and entertaining tale of friendship and possibility, and of self-discovery, as well as a fantastic personal account of the beat movement and its key figures.
Comments2
Year of edition: 2000
Language: English
Rating: 10
"On the Road" stands with works such as Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" and William S. Burroughs' "Naked Lunch" as one of the seminal works of the beat movement. The semi-autobiographical book follows Kerouac (characterised as Sal Paradise) on various roadtrips through post-war America; searching for the unrestrained freedom he sees personified in the reckless, charismatic Neal Cassady (characterised as Dean Moriarty). Though often seen as a prelude to the beatnik and hippie counter-culture movements of the following decades, Kerouac actually intended the story about he and Cassady searching for (and finding) God, in every corner of their country- Kerouac being a self-described "beatific Catholic mystic". Not seeking any kind of spiritual revelation myself; this book for me is an uplifting and entertaining tale of friendship and possibility, and of self-discovery, as well as a fantastic personal account of the beat movement and its key figures.
Rating: 10
One of the greatest books ever written.