Gifford, Barry (Kerouac, Jack)

Kerouac's Town

ISBN: 0916870073
Berkeley, CA: Creative Arts Book Company, 1977. First Revised, Expanded Edition Thus. Softcover. "No matter where Jack (Kerouac) went he always knew he'd return to Lowell, the town he hated and loved, that he felt secure in, the one place he could never really leave." (from "Part Three: A Note on Kerouac's City," pg. 59) This is the chronicle by Barry Gifford (b. 1946) of his visit to Lowell, Massachusetts, the birthplace & hometown of Jack Kerouac (1922-1969), Founding Father of the Beat Generation, exactly two years after his tragic & untimely death. Originally published by Capra Press in 1973, this is the "Revised, expanded edition including 'A Visit with Stella Kerouac' and 'A Note On Kerouac's City' with a new selection of photographs by Marshall Clements." (front cover) The wonderful text & photos guide us to the childhood & youthful experiences that Kerouac immortalized in his works. The new material, especially Gifford's interview-visit with Jack's widow Stella Sampas Kerouac, greatly enriches this small, slim but essential volume. Small-format softcover original, first edition thus as explicated above, No. 2 in publisher's "Modern Authors Monograph Series" (title page), presumed first-&-only printing though not noted as such at copyright page. The following year (1978), Gifford would go on to publish Jack's Book: An Oral Biography of Jack Kerouac, the now-classic work he co-authored/edited with Lawrence Lee (see our item No.s 4572, 6568). A most important & desirable collectible in its preferred revised, expanded contemporary form thus. In relatively quite very fine condition with only very slight rubbing, browning, occasional spotting & faint scratching to front, back covers & spine; a bit of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; one tiny chip from upper right edge of front cover with miniscule loss of surface paper; light rubbing, browning & spotting to edges of text block. Interior very fine with only tiny bumps at corners of a few page leaves. Very Fine. [Item #6737]

Price: $45.00