Nonfiction & Literary Criticism
French, Warren. Jack Kerouac. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1986.
Part of Twayne's United States Authors Series , this insightful work of literary criticism takes the contrarian position that although not as popular as the cult novel On the Road , the novels that comprise the autobiographical Duluoz Legend and, in particular Big Sur , are critically significant.
Hipkiss , Robert A. Jack Kerouac, Prophet of the New Romanticism: A Critical Study of the Published Works of Kerouac and a Comparison of Them to Those of J.D. Salinger, James Purdy, John Knowles, and Ken Kesey. Lawrence, KS: Regents Press of Kansas, 1976.
This early critical study looks to nineteenth century English and American romanticism for the roots of Kerouac's protagonists' vision of life. It then compares Kerouac's work to other New Romantic American writers — Salinger, Purdy, Knowles, and Kesey. Kerouac's spontaneous prose writing style is also astutely evaluated.
Hunt, Tim . Kerouac's Crooked Road: Development of a Fiction . Hamden, CT: Archon Books, 1981.
This insightful analysis of the five “road” novels places Kerouac in the center of American literary tradition, working out the strategies which link him to the conventional literature of Twain, Melville, and other American icons. Hunt's work demonstrates not only the changing aspects of the novels, but Kerouac's creative processes and development as a writer.
Jones, James. T. A Map of Mexico City Blues: Jack Kerouac as Poet . Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1992.
James Jones provides a brief summary of Jack Kerouac's poetic career as a framework for Kerouac's 242 choruses. The “map” discusses Kerouac's various trips to Mexico, conversion to Buddhism, attraction to blues and jazz, and how these influenced the theme and structure of “ Mexico City Blues .” This thorough explication demonstrates the major contribution that this work makes to post-WW II poetry and is an informed study of the work's significance for the Beat movement.
Montgomery, John, comp. Kerouac at the “Wild Boar” and Other Skirmishes . San Anselmo, CA: Fels & Firn Press, 1986.
In an eclectic collection of articles, stories, poems, and unpublished materials, Kerouac friends and scholars capture, in their own words, the spirit of this influential writer.
Theado, Matt. Understanding Jack Kerouac. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2000.
This work documents and analyzes the evolution of Kerouac's literary techniques and style. Studies of Kerouac's works often focus on his books in their order of publication, but this author uses the chronological order of when the books were actually written. The author traces Kerouac's use of themes, motifs, and language. Also included is a discussion of how elements of the various fictional plots related to real persons and events in Kerouac's life. This study adds perspective on how Kerouac's literary skills and spontaneous style developed.