Books

1st Edition. Very Good in a Good dust jacket. Date 1957 stated on title and copyright page. Signed and dated "Allen Ginsburg 10/7/1989" on front end paper. Book shows overall light foxing, minor rubbing on front cover bottom corner, slight fading on top edge papers. Original jacket has been trimmed unevenly about 1/8 in. along top edge; creases and folding show on front cover and along spine; original price has been rubbed off at top of inside front cover flap,"Jacket Design By Bill English" printed on bottom edge of front flap. small stain at bottom corner of flap. Rear inside flap has slight spotting along top edge, also a small rubbed spot above text block. Spine shows no cocking but is a tiny bit loose.

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.

A true first edition can be identified by a black cloth binding with white lettering on the spine, a mention of 'New York Herald Tribune' on the back cover but without 'New York Times' on the back cover, and a photo of Jack Kerouac watching a parade.