Various (Moore, Dave (Editor); Anstee, Rod; Barth, Daniel; Burns, Jim; Cassady, Carolyn; Cassady, Neal; Conn, Jeanne; Cournoyer, Graham; Duckett, Ian; Kerouac, Jack; Masse, Mark; Morton, James; Perrizo, James; Peters, Thomas R. Jr.; Torra, Joseph)

The Kerouac Connection No. 18 (Autumn 1989)

Bristol, England: The Kerouac Connection, 1989. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “It would interest me greatly to know the sources or inspiration behind this ambitious list Neal intended to read by the end of 1947. Since he had just returned to Denver from a few months in New York, where he had met Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac, I suppose some of these titles were recommended by them. The length does not surprise me; even though Neal read slowly, intent upon each word and often rereading sentences or whole paragraphs, he had a photographic memory. Above all, he had a fanatical will to learn…” (Carolyn Cassady, “Neal Cassady’s Booklist – March 1947,” pg. 18). Subtitled a “Beat Brotherhood Newsletter,” here we have the elusive eighteenth issue of “The Kerouac Connection,” Dave Moore’s charming Jack Kerouac-focused periodical. Perhaps the most alluring section of this issue (at least to Your Devoted Managing Curator) is that represented by that quoted from above, — namely, Carolyn Cassady’s submission of a (then recently-unearthed) “Booklist” from Neal Cassady which dates to 1947. The year 1947 is key in the early history and formation of what would later come to be known as The Beat Generation—for the movement’s key figures were then all at nascent (with the exception of Kerouac) stages in their development (their ‘literary’ development, anyway). As Carolyn notes, this list is a great insight into what Burroughs, Ginsberg, and Kerouac would have been advising young Neal to read at this early Zenith in the life of the Beat Generation. As always with The Kerouac Connection, “There’s More!” For a full list of contributors and their contributions, see the following: [1] “The Graham Cournoyer Interview,” by Rod Anstee; [2] “Poetry (for Jack Kerouac),” by Ian Duckett; [3] “Jack Kerouac,” by Joseph Torra; [4] “Radical Jack” by James Morton; [5] “Kerouac” by Thomas Peters, Jr.; [6] “Some British Beat History, Pt. 8” by Dave Cunliffe; [7] Small Ads; [8] “Neal Cassady’s Booklist – March, 1947” by Neal & Carolyn Cassady; [9] “The Bowery Blues” by Jack Kerouac; [10] “The Gift of Duluoz,” by Mark Masse; [11] “Letters”; [12] “News Extra”; [13-17] “Book Reviews” by Jim Perizzo, Jim Burns, Daniel Barth, Rod Anstee, Jeanne Conn. 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 slightest shelf-wear, light rubbing, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; equally (if not more) minute rusting to staples at interior & exterior, else pristine. Very Fine. [Item #5571]

Price: $30.00