Becoming Kerouac: A Writer in His Time

by Paul Maher Jr.

Jack Kerouac was one of America's great writers of the latter half of the 20th century, yet he endured a life characterized by persistent hardship and disillusion. Leading Kerouac scholar Paul Maher Jr. targets the writer's embattled insight of self as central to his life and work. He reveals how Kerouac's troubled interactions with alcohol, drugs, and spirituality stamped its importance on his autobiographical prose and poetry and created a singular language that united thoughts on the human condition and spiritual liberation. Becoming A Writer In His Time affixes Kerouac's life and art in a fresh way, giving readers a rich perspective from which to understand this 20th-century literary genius. Using unpublished archival material, Becoming Kerouac focuses on the writer's critical formative years ––1940 to 1957–– to demonstrate his growth as a novelist and poet. Maher contends that Kerouac developed his singular language to capture human consciousness as it never had before. His futilities catapulted American literature to reflect its restless post-World War II anxieties. Narrating the events that comprised Kerouac's life, biographers have long struggled to illustrate his complexness and the contradictions that shaped his determinations and dogged his relationships. But without consideration of the writing, the troubles in life fail to reveal their deeper resonances by skillfully analyzing the work while tracing the events. Maher achieves a full portrait, revealing struggles that problematize his work. Becoming Kerouac fuses Kerouac's life and art to comprehend this misunderstood literary genius.

318 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Maher was born in Amarillo, Texas, where his father was stationed in the Air Force. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where Maher remained through childhood. Upon graduating from Dracut High School, he joined the United States Navy where he served in the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Ramsey. Upon discharge, Maher returned to Lowell. He attended Middlesex Community College and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he obtained an undergraduate degree in American studies. He later completed a master's degree in Education with a concentration in English.

From 2004 through the present, Maher authored and edited seven books for publication. He has been translated and published in five countries.

Reviews

[Lewis Woolston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on Kerouac's struggle years, before he made it big with "On the Road" and became a counter-culture icon. The struggle to find his own authentic voice and then the struggle to find someone to publish that voice. It's amazing to me how many people in the publishing world couldn't see Kerouac's genius at the time, i bet some of them kicked themselves once he made it big.
Kerouac's drifting life going back and forth across America and failing to hold down even the most menial jobs are discussed in detail. It always amazes me when i read literary biographies how writers who i consider geniuses were so incapable of holding down a job, i guess there are different types of intelligence.
All in all i'd recommend this book if you're interested in Kerouac and his early struggles.

[Ron McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this a one of the best books written by Paul Maher Jr about Jack Kerouac. Full of details about the bard of the Beat Generation and a good read for all Kerouac fan. It’s not the first book I read about the subject written by Paul Maher, but this new book is now, as they say in glorious french, sur ma table de chevet. Can’t wait for the second tome! Now, do yourself a favor : get this book.