Various (Budan, John; Burns, Jim; Cassady, Carolyn; Cunliffe, Dave; Eaton, V.J.; Holland-Skinner, Con; Kerouac, Jack; Moore, Dave; Morton, James; Opstedal, Kevin; Stephenson, Gregory et al.)

The Kerouac Connection, No. 10 (April 1986)

Bristol, England: The Kerouac Connection, 1986. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “In early April 1951 Kerouac sat at his typewriter and hammered out, on a continuous roll of paper in a three week burst of energy, the fourth of what was to be five attempts at his ‘Road’ book, the work he had been attempting for more than two years. This scroll version of ‘On the Road’ has now attained legendary, near mythical status, and as with all legends, many contradictory claims have been made about it. The main contributory reason is that the scroll has been inaccessible for many years. When Ann Charters visited Kerouac’s home to compile her bibliography in 1966, she was able to inspect most of his manuscripts, with the exception of the ‘On the Road’ scroll, which, Jack explained, was ‘in the safe at my agent’s.’ And there it has stayed ever since, apart from an hour or so in 1982, when it was removed and photographs taken which were displayed during the 10-day Jack Kerouac conference at Boulder, Colorado in July of that year, held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Road.’” So reads a significant portion of Editor, Dave Moore’s opening article, “On the Road – The Scroll Revealed,” and it tickles (and validates, somewhat) your Devoted Managing Curator’s ongoing fascination with and proselytizing promotion of Kerouac’ “original scroll” manuscript of “On the Road.” Every time he’s lent and ear to do so, Your Devoted Managing Curator speaks of the scroll and its Beatific fruits-&-virtues; there is, in my unapologetic estimation, no comparison between the Original Scroll and the work as published in 1957. The work as published in ’57—though history hath shown that the form it was published in was ‘good for’ Kerouac (at least insofar as publication history & literary-cultural, as well as [some modicum of] financial success is/are considered) simply does not compare to the far more daring, edgy & experimental Original Scroll. The Original Scroll is also simply more faithful to Kerouac’s mode of composition—the “Spontaneous Prose” method (or “Spontaneous Bop Prosody,” depending on who you ask & when you ask them). I could go on forever, but it’s fun to see excerpts—like literary-historical letters in a bottle, really—of rumination and curiosity from serious Beat devotees pining over the absence (and intrigue) surrounding a defining Beat text. A text that, nowadays, someone who’s never read a sentence of Kerouac can waltz into our brick-&-mortar store here in Downtown Ann Arbor and pluck from our shelves, as a curious youngster did only a few days ago (as of this writing). As I said, I could go on forever, but now opt to list the contributor list (followed by each other’s contribution) in full before arcing this curation to a close. Contributor list, in full, reads as follows: [1] “On the Road – The Scroll Revealed,” by Dave Moore; [2] “On the Road – From the Scroll Typescript,” & “Beat That!” by Jack Kerouac; [3] “Photograph by Fred McDarrah,” by James Morton; [4] “Penitentes,” by John Budan; [5] “Re: Kerouac’s ‘Essentials,’” by Kevin Opstedal; [6] “Bob Kaufman, 1925-1986” by Jim Burns; [7] “On the Road – Self-Propelled,” by Con Holland-Skinner; [8] “Some British Beat History: An Introduction,” by Dave Cunliffe; [9] the ever-present “Letters” [to the Editor] section, this time featuring missives from Carolyn Cassady to the Editor; [10] the equally ever-present “Reviews” section, this time featuring two Friends of Third Mind Books: first, our friend-&-colleague at the European Beat Studies Network (ebsn.eu), Gregory Stephenson, who here reviews a work (“Catching Up With Kerouac”) edited by longtime friend, colleague & First Class patron of Third Mind Books, VJ Eaton; [11] “News,” and, last but not least, TKC’s ever-present (& ever-chipper) “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; faint, fleck-like exhibits of rusting present at/around staples at interior, exterior; else pristine. Very Fine. [Item #5388]

Price: $30.00