Books

First edition, first printing, of the defining work of Beat literature, propelling Kerouac from an obscure writer to "King of the Beats". He later explained, "Dean and I were embarked on a journey through post-Whitman America to FIND that America and to FIND the inherent goodness in American man. [We were] roaming the country in search of God. And we found him". On the Road garnered early cult fame even before publication. It drew attention both through the short sections which appeared in literary magazines and through the manuscript itself, being 37 metres of taped-together sheets, which Kerouac called "the scroll". This solution allowed him to write without changing the sheets of paper in his typewriter and interrupting his free and continuous prose style. Octavo. Original black cloth, spine and front cover lettered in white, top edge red. With dust jacket. Housed in a custom black cloth folding box. Wear to edges, traces of glue residue to covers, spotting to top edge, else clean; unclipped jacket lightly cockled but bright, shaved 1 cm at foot, losing credit to jacket artist, some surface loss to verso: a just about very good copy. Charters A2.

Jack Kerouac's 1957 novel "On the Road" is an emblematic portrait of the Beat Generation, capturing the yearning for freedom and authenticity against postwar American conformity. This semi-autobiographical work, based on the adventures of Kerouac and his friends across America, is often seen as a defining work of the countercultural movements of the 1950s and 60s. It chronicles the cross-country voyages of Sal Paradise, Kerouac’s alter ego, and Dean Moriarty, a free-spirited, charismatic rebel. "On the Road" is structured around several trips made by Sal and Dean, describing their escapades as they travel back and forth across the country. These journeys are less about the destinations and more about the experiences they gather, the people they meet, and the quest for meaning in a society perceived as rigid and materialistic. The narrative style of the book, known for its spontaneous, stream-of-consciousness prose, mirrors the tumultuous, impulsive lives of its characters. The novel not only explores physical journeys but also personal and spiritual ones. Dean's frenetic energy and Sal’s introspective nature contrast sharply, yet both characters are united in their disdain for conventional values. They indulge in jazz, poetry, and drug use—exploring alternative forms of consciousness and relationships.