On the Road

Jack Kerouac's Great American Novel, now in a delightful new Clothbound Classics editionOn the Road swings to the rhythms of 1950s underground America, jazz, sex, generosity, chill dawns and drugs, with Sal Paradise and his hero Dean Moriarty, traveller and mystic, the living epitome of Beat. Now recognized as a modern classic, its American Dream is nearer that of Walt Whitman than Scott Fitzgerald, and it goes racing towards the sunset with unforgettable exuberance, poignancy and autobiographical passion.

Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) was an American writer and leading figure of the Beat Generation, known for his spontaneous, free-flowing style. His most famous novel, On the Road (1957), captures the restless energy of post-war America, following characters on cross-country journeys in search of freedom and self-discovery. Kerouac’s writing style, often called "spontaneous prose," broke traditional narrative structures, embracing raw, unfiltered expression. His works, which explore themes of spirituality, counterculture, and personal exploration, continue to influence generations of writers and artists.