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About this book
Perhaps
the most famous and influential of the Beat novels, Jack Kerouac's On
the Road represents much of what
made the Beat and Counterculture movements so unique and important.
The plot concerning the road trips and adventures experienced by
Kerouac and his friends is well-known, as are the rumors and tall
tales of the books' production.
Kerouac often claimed that the wrote On the Road in a mere three weeks on a single 120-foot scroll of paper. Although that scroll does indeed exist and is featured in museums, Kerouac kept detailed journals of his travels that would later become passages and chapters in the finished product. The book was first published by Viking in 1957.
Viking Press would go on to publish an edited version of On the Road in 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first printing. They substituted the fictional names for the real Beat protagonists, and they even included some of the more sexually explicit passages that were edited out of the 1957 edition.
Due to the cultural significance of the book, true first editions/first printings of On the Road are quite valuable. But be warned: it is easy to mistake reprints or book club editions for the real thing, so always check with an expert before making a significant purchase.
Kerouac often claimed that the wrote On the Road in a mere three weeks on a single 120-foot scroll of paper. Although that scroll does indeed exist and is featured in museums, Kerouac kept detailed journals of his travels that would later become passages and chapters in the finished product. The book was first published by Viking in 1957.
Viking Press would go on to publish an edited version of On the Road in 2007 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first printing. They substituted the fictional names for the real Beat protagonists, and they even included some of the more sexually explicit passages that were edited out of the 1957 edition.
Due to the cultural significance of the book, true first editions/first printings of On the Road are quite valuable. But be warned: it is easy to mistake reprints or book club editions for the real thing, so always check with an expert before making a significant purchase.
Summary
On the Road chronicles Jack Kerouac's years traveling the North American continent with his friend Neal Cassady, "a sideburned hero of the snowy West." As "Sal Paradise" and "Dean Moriarty," the two roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience. Kerouac's love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz combine to make On the Road an inspirational work of lasting importance.
Kerouac’s classic novel of freedom and longing defined what it meant to be Beat” and has inspired every generation since its initial publication more than fifty years ago.
Kerouac’s classic novel of freedom and longing defined what it meant to be Beat” and has inspired every generation since its initial publication more than fifty years ago.
First Edition Identification
On The Road was first published by Viking in 1957. True first printings of the book include the $3.95 pricing information on the top right hand corner of the front inside dust jacket flap. Later printings and subsequent book club editions do not feature the price in that location. Additionally, a photo of Kerouac is featured on the back inside cover flap along with a brief description of the author.
Details
- Title On the Road
- Author Jack Kerouac
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Later Printing
- Pages 320
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Penguin Books, New York
- Date 1976-12-28
- ISBN 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Weight 0.5 lbs (0.23 kg)
- Dimensions 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.7 in (19.56 x 12.95 x 1.78 cm)
- Ages 18 to UP years
- Grade levels 13 - UP
- Reading level 940
-
Themes
- Topical: Coming of Age
- Library of Congress subjects Autobiographical fiction, Beat generation
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 57009425
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
Media reviews
Citations
- Entertainment Weekly, 01/08/2016, Page 105
- Newsweek, 03/30/2009, Page 14
- Outside, 09/01/2007, Page 40
- People Weekly, 08/18/2008, Page 50
More Copies for Sale
On the Road
by Jack Kerouac
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Cambridge, New York, United States
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$2.49$4.50 shipping to USA
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Penguin Books. Paperback. Good. 1976. Trade paperback. Cover surface is in great shape, showing very little visible rubbing. Edges and corners show some minor denting or small creases. Book is clean and free of stickers, residue or marks. Binding is a bit loose, but pages are secure. Pages are clean and appear to be free of marks or tears. Used
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On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
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- UsedGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
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Imperial, Missouri, United States
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On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
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- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 37
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Seattle, Washington, United States
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Penguin Books, 1976. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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$5.99
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On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 4
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Seattle, Washington, United States
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Description:
Penguin Books, 1976. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 4
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
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$5.99FREE shipping to USA
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Description:
Penguin Books, 1976. Paperback. Good. Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
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$5.99FREE shipping to USA
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Description:
Penguin Books, 1976. Paperback. Acceptable. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$5.99FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Penguin Books, 1976. Paperback. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$5.99
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
On the Road (Penguin Orange Collection)
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- Condition
- UsedAcceptable
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
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Interlochen, Michigan, United States
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$6.15FREE shipping to USA
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UsedAcceptable. The item is very worn but continues to work perfectly. Signs of wear can include aesthetic issues such as scratches, dents, worn and creased covers, folded page corners and minor liquid stains. All pages and the cover are intact, but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include moderate to heavy amount of notes and highlighting, but the text is not obscured or unreadable. Page edges may have foxing (age related spots and browning). May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
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Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
On the Road
by Jack Kerouac
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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HOUSTON, Texas, United States
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Penguin (Non-Classics), 1976-12-28. Paperback. Good.
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Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
On the Road
by Kerouac, Jack
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780140042597 / 0140042598
- Quantity Available
- 7
- Seller
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Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
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$7.58FREE shipping to USA
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Penguin Publishing Group. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
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