On the Road (Essential Penguin) [Paperback]

Jack Kerouac (Author)

Book Description

Series: Essential Penguin | Publication Date: September 3, 1998

Sal Paradise, a young innocent, joins the slightly crazed Dean Moriarty on a breathless, exuberant ride back and forth across the United States. Their hedonistic search for release or fulfillment through drink, sex, drugs and jazz becomes an exploration of personal freedom, a test of the limits of the American dream. A brilliant blend of fiction and autobiography, Jack Kerouac's exhilarating novel defined the new 'Beat' generation. It had tremendous impact on both sides of the Atlantic and made him famous overnight.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Kerouac was born in Massachusetts. He had written his first novel by age eleven and decided to become a writer at seventeen. He called his style 'spontaneous prose' and recorded the life of the American 'traveler' and the experience of the beatgeneration of the 1950s. He was working on his longest novel of all, a surrealistic study of the last ten years of his life, when he died in 1969, aged forty-seven.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (September 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140274154
• ISBN-13: 978-0140274158
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,880 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), the central figure of the Beat Generation, was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1922 and died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1969. Among his many novels are On the Road, The Dharma Bums, Big Sur, and Visions of Cody.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's Your Road, Man?, July 27, 2008

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On the Road (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)

Before there were Hippies or Yuppies, it was hip to be "Beat".The generation of writers, poets, artists, and musicians living Bohemian lifestyles, yearning for knowledge,and enjoying life to it's fullest.

"On The Road",a novel based on Kerouac's own travels, follows the adventures of the life loving Sal Paradise and the complex Dean Moriarity as they criss-cross North America, usually broke, trying to find themselves. They experience life, and lifestyles new to them and savor every moment. Every colorful character they encounter touches their lives in some way, and adds greatly to this story. Kerouac's zest for life and love of people becomes apparent and is contagious.His wonderful descriptive phrases leave you with fabulous images of the people, the places, and the times.I often found myself smiling or even laughing out loud.

It's a story that captures and preserves on it's pages the essence of the "beat generation" and is so engrossing, you may lose track of all time. And for those that love Kerouac's words and can't get enough,you can take him with you! This book is also available on an unabridged CD -On The Road CDwith a reading that will give you an even deeper appreciation of these wonderful characters,one that brings them to life.Actor Matt Dillon,captures every delicious moment as if he was Kerouac himself.For details on the audio editions - see my review.

With every read, I have a great time, and wish I was there!

"What's your road, man?"....enjoy...Laurie

5.0 out of 5 stars a good read, September 30, 2010

By 

sharon goodall (Suisun City, CA, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the Road (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)

This book has inspired my 14 year old son to read more and
try his hand at poetry as well as explore other religions

The book came very quickly and was in good condition
It is a classic and a good depiction of
"the beat generation life style" for those who
were born well after the fact.... :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Great road novel, started the beat generation, April 20, 2010

By 

Patrice Deware (New Orleans) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Road (Essential Penguin) (Paperback)

Great book, fast moving, way ahead of its time. The book describes the travels of a young man through the USA, shortly after the war. Written on one long sheet of paper and within in three weeks, its speed and impact changed a generation. Even now great stuff to read.