On the Road by Kerouac, Jack - 1957

NY: Viking, 1957. Octavo. (iv) 310pp. First edition. Author's second book, which stands quite firmly as the quintessential work of beat literature. The subject of Kerouac's rhapsodic novel is well-known, as are the stories surrounding its composition, and the mixed bag of critical response to its publication. What is less often cited is Kerouac's intended audience, which Ann Charters reveals in her bibliography: in a later interview, he admits that the book was written for his second wife "to tell her what I'd been through. It's directed toward a woman ... it's sexy because it's addressed to a woman." Fine and bright in black cloth stamped in white, and with unrestored dust wrapper which shows faint rubbing to spine, a few tiny nicks to head of spine, and a couple of small closed tears at extremities. (Charters A2.a).