THE DAILY BEAT: Jack Kerouac died 47 years ago at age 47

Friday, October 21, 2016

Jack Kerouac died 47 years ago at age 47

Michael White's book

"I wish I was free of that slaving meat wheel and safe in heaven dead."

The above closing passage from Jack Kerouac's "211th Chorus" in Mexico City Blues comes to mind today, as it always does, on this the anniversary of his death in 1969 (read the whole poem here). There is a book by Michael White titled, Safe in Heaven Dead: Interviews with Jack Kerouac (see above), which I don't own but it's sure a great title (and would make a great birthday or Christmas present for yours truly -- hint, hint).

At least I made it to Jack's grave this month (his favorite: October) if not today. If you're into the whole numerology thing, Jack died 47 years ago at the age of 47. That's only gonna happen once, so let's raise an extra glass to the greatest American writer who ever lived.

RIP, Jack.

Rick Dale at Jack Kerouac's grave, October 6, 2016

1 comment:

Mark Butkus said...: On his last day I read his last paragraph of "On The Road."

Thanks for sharing.; October 21, 2016 at 10:24 PM

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Reviews of The Beat Handbook

Gerald Nicosia, author of the acclaimed Kerouac biography Memory Babe, said The Beat Handbook is "full of Jack's heart."

Jared Randall, author of the excellent book of poetry, Apocryphal Road Code, said this about The Beat Handbook: "Sometimes a book comes along at just the right time. In my wandering pack of experiences, I find they often do. Enter The Beat Handbook by Rick Dale."

Kenneth Morris, Kerouacian extraordinaire, said this:
"I just finished reading Rick Dale's beautiful utterance and call to action of Kerouac mind-set and zen sensibilities. It made me laugh and reflect on my own life and road I have naturally grooved into after absorbing the Kerouac canon. The road less traveled always had my name on it. And that has made all the difference. The Beat Handbook 100 Days of Kerouactions reaffirms the attitudes and ideology that made the Beats and Kerouac the important men of ideas that America (and the world) thirsted for, needed, and swallowed whole. Beautiful, absorbing, Top Ten whipsmart from my articulate, tender-hearted friend and fellow traveler. Highly recommended."