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The Portable Jack Kerouac
This one-volume omnibus, planned by the author before his death and now completed by his biographer, Ann Charters, makes clear the ambition and accomplishment of Jack Kerouac's "Legend of Duluoz" - the story of his life told in the course of his many "true-story novels, " including "On the Road." As Kerouac once wrote, "The whole thing forms one enormous comedy, seen through the eyes of poor Ti Jean (me), otherwise known as Jack Duluoz, the world of raging action and folly and also of gentle sweetness seen through the keyhole of his eye." The only anthology of Kerouac's work ever published, this compilation presents selections from the "Legend of Duluoz" novels, in chronological order, and also includes poetry, letters, and essays on Buddhism, writing, and the Beat Generation. "The Portable Jack Kerouac" is an essential introduction to one of this country's most important modern writers.
626 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1995
40 people are currently reading
1405 people want to read
About the author
Jack Kerouac
359 books11.5k followersJean-Louis Lebris de Kérouac, known as Jack Kerouac, was an American novelist and poet who, alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, was a pioneer of the Beat Generation.
Of French-Canadian ancestry, Kerouac was raised in a French-speaking home in Lowell, Massachusetts. He "learned English at age six and spoke with a marked accent into his late teens." During World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine; he completed his first novel at the time, which was published more than 40 years after his death. His first published book was The Town and the City (1950), and he achieved widespread fame and notoriety with his second, On the Road, in 1957. It made him a beat icon, and he went on to publish 12 more novels and numerous poetry volumes.
Kerouac is recognized for his style of stream of consciousness spontaneous prose. Thematically, his work covers topics such as his Catholic spirituality, jazz, travel, promiscuity, life in New York City, Buddhism, drugs, and poverty. He became an underground celebrity and, with other Beats, a progenitor of the hippie movement, although he remained antagonistic toward some of its politically radical elements. He has a lasting legacy, greatly influencing many of the cultural icons of the 1960s, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jerry Garcia and The Doors.
In 1969, at the age of 47, Kerouac died from an abdominal hemorrhage caused by a lifetime of heavy drinking. Since then, his literary prestige has grown, and several previously unseen works have been published.
Of French-Canadian ancestry, Kerouac was raised in a French-speaking home in Lowell, Massachusetts. He "learned English at age six and spoke with a marked accent into his late teens." During World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine; he completed his first novel at the time, which was published more than 40 years after his death. His first published book was The Town and the City (1950), and he achieved widespread fame and notoriety with his second, On the Road, in 1957. It made him a beat icon, and he went on to publish 12 more novels and numerous poetry volumes.
Kerouac is recognized for his style of stream of consciousness spontaneous prose. Thematically, his work covers topics such as his Catholic spirituality, jazz, travel, promiscuity, life in New York City, Buddhism, drugs, and poverty. He became an underground celebrity and, with other Beats, a progenitor of the hippie movement, although he remained antagonistic toward some of its politically radical elements. He has a lasting legacy, greatly influencing many of the cultural icons of the 1960s, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Jerry Garcia and The Doors.
In 1969, at the age of 47, Kerouac died from an abdominal hemorrhage caused by a lifetime of heavy drinking. Since then, his literary prestige has grown, and several previously unseen works have been published.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 24, 2012
To be honest, I had already read about 80% of what is in this selection, as I was a big Kerouac fan in my teens and early 20s (and still am, really) and devoured all I could find of his. I mostly bought this because it includes a nice selection of his letters. I flipped through the two volume collection of his letters in a used bookstore once and I just couldn't see how even a serious Kerouac fan would devote so much time to reading through all the riff raff of his casual communications to get to the meat of it all.
The Portable does all the "dirty work" for us and includes only the most historically significant letters, or at least the most enjoyable reads for Kerouac fans.
The selection of rare and/or posthumous works is also really good. From what I scanned of the selections of his published works, nearly all the best stuff seems to be in there as well.
The Portable follows his life and career chronologically, which stays true to Kerouac’s own Proustian ideas for his bio-fictional catalogue.
Ann Charters edited this, so I know it is a great intro to, as well as summary of, Kerouac's work and its enduring impact on American letters over the past sixty years. But even for the well-read Kerouac fan, this is a nice, concise collection to own for such Kerouac-friendly occasions as long roadtrips and camping.
The Portable does all the "dirty work" for us and includes only the most historically significant letters, or at least the most enjoyable reads for Kerouac fans.
The selection of rare and/or posthumous works is also really good. From what I scanned of the selections of his published works, nearly all the best stuff seems to be in there as well.
The Portable follows his life and career chronologically, which stays true to Kerouac’s own Proustian ideas for his bio-fictional catalogue.
Ann Charters edited this, so I know it is a great intro to, as well as summary of, Kerouac's work and its enduring impact on American letters over the past sixty years. But even for the well-read Kerouac fan, this is a nice, concise collection to own for such Kerouac-friendly occasions as long roadtrips and camping.
February 28, 2019
Quality time with my man Ti Jean, Sal Paradise, Jack Duluoz, Leo Percepied, Ray Smith, and Peter Martin. I love Kerouac.
May 5, 2023
A very good overview of Kerouac's unique writing style. Part stream-of-consciousness, part road story, most of these writings are autobiographical, as Kerouac turned his life into his literary catalogue. Kerouac is perhaps not as talented as a poet, as I found his poems underwhelming, but his "spontaneous prose," as he calls it, is top notch writing. The samples of his books made me want to read the full versions, and maybe I will some day. This book is recommended for readers who want to experience this iconic writer.
June 3, 2008
Since Kerouac's writing is immense and freethinking, it ranges from extraordinary to not worth reading. Consequently, an anthology is a great way to find the writings of his that appeal to you...and this is a good collection.
November 17, 2008
highly reccomend it has everything about my favorite author. poems, history, excerts from his famous novels on the road to the subternaneans. essential kerouac.
August 26, 2012
Very interesting read. Gives some nice glimmers into the in-between places of his writings as well as frames up his more renowned works. A nice compliment piece for people who like to get a little past the basics.
April 23, 2018
A wonderful man, and truly wonderful book. A favorite passage: "It's all like a dream. Everything is ecstasy, inside. We just don't know it because of our thinking-minds. But in our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright, forever and forever and forever."
March 13, 2013
Always have Jack on hand, be he whiskey, a dear cat, or 'petit Jean from Lowell in New England who set us all free
December 31, 2015
This was a hefty beach read about a decade ago. It was my first experience with both stream-of-consciousness and beat writing, and I was riveted.
March 28, 2020
“truly speaking, unrecognizably sweet it all is. dont worry about nothing.”
August 3, 2011
Kerouac is an American Classic. If you think you're well versed on the classics from the time period of Hemingway and haven't read Kerouac you're wrong.
I was hugely a fan of Kerouac from about age 14 to 20. Then I tried to rekindle that spark a few years ago and it just wasn't the same. If you want to buy a great book for someone infected with a bit of the wanderlust though, anything from Kerouac would be perfect and I would recommend ON THE ROAD as a place to start.
I was hugely a fan of Kerouac from about age 14 to 20. Then I tried to rekindle that spark a few years ago and it just wasn't the same. If you want to buy a great book for someone infected with a bit of the wanderlust though, anything from Kerouac would be perfect and I would recommend ON THE ROAD as a place to start.
May 23, 2010
This, not "On the Road," got me hooked on Kerouac. I definitely recommend it for anyone who is just beginning to read his novels.
August 11, 2008
Excellent overview of his work, with small but georgeous selections of his lesser-known material- letters, memoir(y) stuff, occasional poems.
I was unable to be without this book for quite some time. That was highschool....*sigh*
December 15, 2007
A Good overview of JK
April 16, 2008
The essential Kerouac. My copy is worn and tattered.
August 22, 2008
I picked this one up at the library to study Kerouac's works. Great poet.
February 8, 2009
The really good parts make up for the so-so parts
May 24, 2009
Haven't read ALL of this but it's great to take for excerpt reading (obviously).
February 11, 2013
full of insights into the life and work of a master craftsman
December 21, 2015
Good cross section of Kerouac's writings. I thought adding in selected letters was a nice touch, as it underscored his writings at the time the letters were written.
April 7, 2013
really everything you need from Kerouac in one neat little package. :D
July 20, 2024
I think this book is the one to start reading Kerouac along with the Portable Beats, which I haven't finished. I read Dharma Bums in college and thought it lacked structure. I didn't know it was all based on real events and didn't know how to decode the names. Even at that, it had scenes that still stick with me and I haven't reread it yet. What I know now is that structure isn't the thing to look for here, that it's one long autobiography by a brilliant man who also happened to drink a lot and take uppers. He was also a speed typist. But he wasn't just a typist, as has been quipped. He could write. He also could invent games and started doing that as a child. On games alone, Kerouac seems brilliant and I wonder if enough survives in his notes to reconstruct his work. He was influenced by Thomas Wolfe, which is likely why my father had Dharma Bums in the first place. Before there were hippies I wanted to be a beat. it must have been an odd psychic transmission because I have no idea where it came from.
March 20, 2021
the thing about jack kerouac is that if you've read one of his novels, you've read them all. he has one specific writing style, one general topic. this book has sections of his other books in it, and honestly you could read them as if they're all from the same novel because he's extremely repetitive.
having a style is good, yes, but i think when you're writing the same story over and over with little differences in plot....then i don't know. makes it tiring for me, personally.
having a style is good, yes, but i think when you're writing the same story over and over with little differences in plot....then i don't know. makes it tiring for me, personally.
April 10, 2024
His writing about his process can be more interesting than his actual writing at times.
November 6, 2007
the guy that wrote on the road drank himself to death. i couldnt believe it!
August 29, 2009
A good starting point. I read it on airplanes between the west coast and Montana, and in between. It's a battle worth winning.
July 18, 2011
Great overview of Jack Kerouac works. I now want to read more of his books, and poems.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews