Lot 104
Kerouac, Jack (1922-1969) Spokesman for the "beat movement"; most of his writings are autobiographical. Typed Letter Signed twice: "Jack" at the end of the first page, and "Jack Kerouac" at the end of the second, 2pp. 11"x8½", n.p. (Northport, N.Y.), n.d. (1960 Nov. 22). Very fine; minor toning only. With typed, addressed envelope and photo of Kerouac. To Granville H. Jones, who had written a thesis entitled "Walt Whitman, Thomas Wolfe and Jack Kerouac: Common Origins and Common Aims" for his Master's Degree at Columbia University. James Benenson gave a copy to Kerouac, who responded enthusiastically to Jones. In part:
"It [the thesis] is the only thing…that has made me happy in three years, since the publication of On the Road and the subsequent sickeningness of 'being famous' (being used by everybody and his uncle) and of course the nausea of phoney criticisms based on the wrong reasons (as for instance those who 'admire' for being so 'wild & irresponsible' etc.) What you've written about me has restored my faith in my own writing….I was becoming terribly discouraged by the scandalous lack of critical fairness….the vision of America is being destroyed now by the beatnik movement which is not the 'beat generation' I proposed any more, but a big move-in from intellectual dissident wrecks of all kinds and now even anti-American….What you've written about let's say is the work of Kerouac the Younger. What comes now, after this, is that of Kerouac the Elder. It will be quite different, harsher, bitterer at times….I'm middle aged now and no longer an enthusiastic college boy lyrically feeling America…." He ends the first page "Later Jack."
The second page adds some bibliographical information and a final thanks, "…you've made me feel grand and now a little vain but that's okay, I was always an egocentric anyway…." He ends, "A Dios Jack Kerouac." A superb letter. Jones' thesis is present.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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| Realized $4,600 |
