2019 Reprint of 1962 Edition. Coming down from his carefree youth and unwanted fame, Jack Kerouac undertakes a mature confrontation of some of his most troubling emotional issues: a burgeoning problem with alcoholism, addiction, fear, and insecurity. He dutifully records his ever-changing states of consciousness, which culminate in a powerful religious experience. Big Sur was written sometime after Jack Kerouac's best-known works, following a visit to northern California and the first feelings of midlife crisis. Kerouac stayed for several weeks in a cabin in Big Sur, California, and with friends in San Francisco. Upon returning home, he wrote this account in a two-week period. Critic Richard Meltzer referred to Big Sur as Kerouac's 'masterpiece, and one of the great, great works of the English language."
Jack Kerouac
Jack Kerouac was an American novelist and poet known for his spontaneous prose style and association with the Beat Generation. His most notable works include "On the Road" and "The Dharma Bums," which explore themes of freedom, spirituality, and the search for meaning in life. Kerouac's writing often reflected his own experiences traveling across America and his interest in jazz music and Eastern philosophy. His work had a significant impact on literature, influencing future generations of writers and shaping the countercultural movement of the 1950s and 1960s. "On the Road" remains his most famous work, celebrated for its exploration of the American road trip and its portrayal of the Beat Generation's quest for authenticity and self-discovery.