What Gets Kept
3 days ago
- #personal memoir
- #Beat Generation
- #literary legacy
- An old glass ashtray containing Jack Kerouac's ashes from his last cigarette before his death in 1969 was exhibited at the Grolier Club.
- Kerouac's personal belongings, including his pajama bottoms and the iconic 'On the Road' manuscript, were stored in a barn in Lowell after his death and later sold by his literary executor.
- The narrator, a former girlfriend, recalls meeting Kerouac on a blind date in 1957, sparked by her reading of his first novel and their shared literary interests.
- Kerouac often faced financial struggles, leading to situations like the narrator paying for his meal during their first meeting.
- Their relationship deepened quickly, with Kerouac moving into her apartment shortly after they met, though both knew he would leave once he received payment for 'On the Road'.
- Kerouac's travels, including a voyage to Tangier and plans to move to Mexico, were marked by loneliness and a search for identity, reflecting his Franco-American heritage.
- The publication of 'On the Road' in 1957 brought Kerouac instant fame, but he struggled with the loss of anonymity and turned to heavy drinking to cope.
- Kerouac's mother, Mémère, held prejudiced views, which created tension, and Kerouac eventually retreated to live with her on Long Island.
- The relationship ended as drink and fame changed Kerouac, leaving the narrator with memories and items like his red-and-black shirt, which she later lost track of.
- Kerouac's letters to the narrator were sold for practical reasons, and their correspondence ended up in Hollywood, highlighting the commercial legacy of his personal life.