Thursday, June 5, 2014

RIP, Jan Kerouac

Jack Kerouac's only child, Jan Kerouac, died this date in 1996 at the age of 44. If you haven't checked out her writing, please do so. The acorn didn't fall far from the tree in that regard. I recommend both her completed novels, Baby Driver and Trainsong. Excerpts of her unfinished novel, Parrot Fever, are also available (at a price).


There's no complete biography of Jan yet, but one may be in the works. In the meantime, you can read Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory, a collection of memoirs, photos, and an interview (edited by Gerald Nicosia).

RIP, Jan. You led a colorful life and definitely lived a lot in your time. I wish we could have met (from what I know, I suspect I may have had a little crush).










2 comments:

Michelle said...

Interesting to note I was able to here her speak along with one of Jack's friends that knew him here in St. Pete at Eckerd College at a book festival back in the early 90's. I purchased my first copy of On the Road that day. It was amazing to hear their stories about Jack.

Fat Free Milk said...

I remember her writing a short bit in The Beat Reader? Beat Reader Companion or something like that? I just remember liking her story about the little that she remembered about Jack. there was a story from Burroughs' kid and a story from Bukowski about meeting/drinking with Neal Cassady? Love your blog. I've ben trolling through mine and saw revisited a comment that you left years ago. Please stop by again. www.kevynnmalone.blogspot.com

Oh! I'm going to buy your book too!