BackgroundJack

Kerouac was born in March 12, 1922 in Lowell, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of three. In 1926, Jack and his family were heartbroken when the oldest son died of rheumatic fever at 9 years old. During the Great Depression Jack's father turned to alcohol and gambling. At age 17, Jack moved to New York to start his football career in Columbia University. During on of his first games he injured his leg and couldn't play for the rest of the season. Frustrated he quite football and dropped out of college. He later joined the Navy but was discharged due to being diagnosed as a schizoid personality. He then became a seaman and decided on the life of a vagabond. In the 1940's, he traveled with a friend to places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and even Mexico City. He then experimented with Buddhism. Later, he married Edie Parker but divorced later. In 1950, he married Joan Haverty and they had an only daughter. They later got divorced and he married Stella Sampas. He then published his first book called, "The Town and The City". He died in October 21, 1969 from abdominal hemorrhage.

Style

Kerouac's style of poetry is light and peaceful. Its said that Bob Dylan, Tom Robbins, Richard Brautigan, Hunter S. Thompson, Ken Kesey, and Tom Waits are some people who influenced his poetry.

Work Cited

"Jack Kerouac", New World Encyclopedia. June 11, 2014. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Jack_Kerouac

"Jack Kerouac Biography", Biography. December 8, 2015. http://www.biography.com/people/jack-kerouac-9363719#final-years

"Jack Kerouac", Poem hunter. http://www.poemhunter.com/jack-kerouac/