Books

Ocatvo. 310pp. Illustrated black dust jacket with red and blue, and white lettering on the front cover and spine. Black cloth boards, with white lettering on the spine. Tope edege of book block in red. A fourth printing of the first edition of this defining and seminal novel of the Beat Generation by Jack Kerouac. This work, originally written in 1951, is based on the the author's travels across the United States in the late 1940s, and was Kerouac second published novel. The book is considered one of the most important American novels of the 20th century. Jacket is unclipped, with a price of $3.95, and stated fourth printing (March, 1958). This printing retains the iconic jacket design by Bill English. Other than some light damp staining on the interior covers, the jacket, binding and interior are all in beautiful near fine condition. A very nice copy.

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.