Kerouac Writing Milestone for first novel ~ The Town and the City

During the month of March the life, work and the memory of  iconic Lowell writer Jack Kerouac is celebrated. Readings, musical tributes, discussions and walking the loop help commemorate the March 12 (1922) birthday of Jean-Louis “Jack” Kerouac.  From the archive ~

Kerouac logs 2500 words toward finish of his first novel ~ The Town and The City

March 23, 2014 by Marie Posted in CultureLowell Leave a Comment

While On the Road is still the most widely read of Jack Kerouac’s works, Mass Moments reminds us that the highly autobiographical The Town and the City was his first novel. On this day March 23, 1948  he noted in his diary or “writing log” that he had written 2500 words and was on a pace for completion in a matter of weeks. The best known writer of the “Beat” generation, Lowell-native Jack Kerouac eventually wrote more than a dozen books.

 

      …in 1948, Lowell native Jack Kerouac happily noted in his diary that he had written 2500 words. If he could keep up this pace, he would finish his first novel in a matter of weeks. The highly autobiographical The Town and the Citywas published in 1950, the same year he began writing On the Road, the novel that earned him the title “Father of the Beat Generation.” By the time he died at the age of 47 Jack Kerouac had published 14 books. On the Road is Kerouac’s most-read work today; it is widely considered one of the most important and influential American novels of the twentieth century, and Jack Kerouac is celebrated as one of Lowell’s favorite sons.The full article here:http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=91