Punk Human

ON THE ROAD

by Jack Kerouac (1957)

Sal Paradise has an itch that needs to be scratched. He desires both knowledge and experience. Sal sets out with his best mate Dean Moriarty to travel across America. One long trip then becomes four; and through adventure and misadventure in equal parts, Sal becomes a little wiser. Together, Sal and Dean explore local scenes and meet all kinds of people. They drink, smoke, party and visit jazz clubs, run down pubs, and whorehouses. They participate in a latent America that (to them) needed to be felt and seen and understood just as it were. No dream factory gloss, just unvarnished truth extracted from each live moment. And throughout this journey into America’s soul, the meaning of time would be revealed. But will either traveller notice the revelation? Fiction. 291 pages.

Cover of 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac featuring a black and white photograph of two men in a car, one driving and one in the passenger seat.

DETAILS:

Title: On the road

Year: 1957

Author: Jack Kerouac

Pages: 291

Text graphic featuring the words 'Punk Human' in a bold, stylised font on a black background with red textured elements.

Book review by Keith Salter

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