THE DAILY BEAT: In defense of Jack Kerouac, feminist author

Friday, August 17, 2012

In defense of Jack Kerouac, feminist author

Stephanie Nikolopoulus (click here for her blog) took it on the on-line chin this week from "feminists" for her daring to defend Jack Kerouac's work (click here for her article). I've attempted to defend Jack against such attacks at least three times in the past:

February 8, 2009
August 29, 2009
July 24, 2011

Now comes Danny Lanzetta, with a reasoned piece (click here) titled, "In Defense of Jack Kerouac and Other Flawed Literature."

As I have said before and will continue saying, if we cannot read an author because of the author's personal foibles or less-than-perfect behavior/attitudes, we may as well admit that there is nothing worthy of reading.

Thanks, Danny, for injecting reason into the debate.

And don't forget, Jack wrote:

My aunt once said that the world would never find peace until men fell at their women's feet and asked for forgiveness.

Peace out, sister.

No comments:

Post a Comment

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."