Various (Moore, Dave (Editor); Kerouac, Jack)

The Kerouac Connection No. 7 (July 1985)

Bristol, England: The Kerouac Connection, 1985. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. Subtitled a “Beat Brotherhood Newsletter,” here we have the elusive seventh issue of “The Kerouac Connection,” Dave Moore’s charming Jack Kerouac-focused (1922-1969) periodical. As the graphic on the issue’s front cover promises, the loose focus for the issue is indeed “Kerouac in Italy.” Several interesting contributions speak to this focus, beginning with Giovanni Tovt’s “For a Fistful of Dollars: J. Kerouac & the Cultural Establishment in Italy, 1966.” Spanning 17 “takes,” an Epilogue, a “Thanks,” as well as a “Notes” Portion, Tovt’s contribution spans three-&-a-half pages and is pure Beat tragicomedy. “Girls offer themselves to him because they know who he is, or reject him because they don’t…; Kerouac ‘this short man with green eyes snoring and groaning, tearing his shirt open to show his obese belly to the two girls gone up to him to take a few snaps and interview him,’ also ‘One can’t go near him, not for fear of his fists, but for his breath…’” and so on (pg. 3, “Take 8”). The issue continues with a letter from Kerouac’s own hand, this time to Stanley Twardowicz, dated “Dec. 18 1966” & relaying details of his then-recent Italian sojourn. Following this is a piece by Jonathan Collins, “Pace and Place: An analysis of THE DHARMA BUMS and ON THE ROAD.” The issue continues with a film review (of Hart & Macadams’ documentary, “What Happened to Kerouac?”) by the ever-opinionated John Montgomery, before segueing into a short “Letters” section. Kaviraj George Dowden follows Montgomery, contributing “MY LIFE — MY ART: THE BEAT INFLUENCE,” a delightful memoir-esque testament to the enduring influence of Kerouac & the Beat Generation on his life, work & philosophy. The issue begins to arc towards a close with the usual raft of book reviews native to most all issues of TKC (one of which is notably composed by Kit Knight, of “Unspeakable Visions’ fame), and concludes with a short “News” section. Small-format literary magazine-journal in stapled wrappers: the first and only printing of this Kerouac-themed periodical. From the collection of Kevin Ring, publisher of Beat Scene magazine & other indispensable productions (many available here), & our good friend. In very fine condition with only minute shelf-wear, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers; hushed pronouncements of rusting, bleeding to staples, & accompanying slight flecks of bleeding at/near/orbiting same; else pristine. Very Fine. [Item #5316]

Price: $30.00