Jack Kerouac Letter – 1947
Year: 1947
Price: $12,000
Description
An unmailed letter to Kerouac's former Columbia roommate Hal Chase, written shortly before Kerouac's departure for Denver and the beginning of his life on the road.
Author: Jack Kerouac (American)
Location: N.p.
Date: April 19, 1947
Pages: 1 typed page
Format: 4to, single leaf, dated in upper left corner
Content Summary
Hal Chase, from Denver, introduced Neal Cassady to Kerouac and Ginsberg. In this letter, Kerouac expresses his changing mindset:
“…Lately my interests have been undergoing a startling change, and I was pleased (once more) to learn that you yourself have been reorganizing or possibly just naturally turning your mind to new interests. I'm struck by the fact that we seem to undergo parallel changes every now and then…My own development in the directions above hinted center around a new interest in things rather than in ideas.”
He then lists books he’s been reading, including Parkman’s Oregon Trail and a biography of Washington. He adds:
“…last but not least, I have begun a huge study of the face of America itself, acquiring maps (roadmaps) of every state in the USA, and before long not a river or mountain peak or bay or town or city will escape my attention… My subject as a writer is of course America, and simply, I must know everything about it.”
He describes his writing ambition as “Balzacian in scope” and contrasts European culture as “a culture of turmoil, resentment and inter-human struggle” with American culture: “a culture of livelihood, purpose, land, and natural struggle.”
Condition Report
Revive
Fair
Good
★ Very Good
Like New
Light creasing from prior folding
Features
Dust Jacket
Signed
Details
Language: English
Subject: Letters, Ephemera
Purchase
Item: Letter from Jack Kerouac to Hal Chase
Price: $12,000
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