Books
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

see page history

Description edit see section history

Kerouac's gritty, moving take on the destruction of his own myth, as the King of the Beats approaches middle age! Unmistakably autobiographical, Big Sur, Kerouac's ninth novel, was written as the 'King of the Beats' was approaching middle-age and reflects his struggle to come to terms with... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

First Sentence edit see section history

THE CHURCH IS BLOWING a sad windblown "Kathleen" on the bells in the skid row slums as I wake up all woebegone and goopy, groaning from another drinking bout and groaning most of all because I'd ruined my "secret return" to San Francisco by getting silly drunk while hiding in the alleys with bums and then marching forth into North Beach to see everybody altho Lorenz Monsanto and I'd exchanged huge letters outlining how I would sneak in quietly, call him on the phone using a code name like Adam Yulch or Lalagy Pulvertaft (also writers) and then he would secretly drive me to his cabin in the Big Sur woods where I would be alone and undisturbed for six weeks just chopping wood, drawing water, writing, sleeping, hiking, etc. etc.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Penguin Classic Deluxe Edition Book Covers. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Jack Kerouac (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy
Country: United States
Publication Date: 1962
ISBN: 0-14-016812-5
Page Count: 256

Classification edit see section history


We’re hiding the errata, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.