Afbeelding van de auteur.

Neal Cassady (1926–1968)

Auteur van The First Third

15+ Werken 706 Leden 7 Besprekingen Favoriet van 1 leden

Over de Auteur

Neal Cassady was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 8, 1926. He was raised by an alcoholic father in skid row hotels and spent time in reform schools and juvenile prisons. While visiting a friend in New York in December 1946, he met Jack Kerouac and Allen S. Ginsberg. Together they would toon meer become part of the Beat movement. Cassady appeared as a main character in several books including Go by John Clellon Holmes, On the Road by Kerouac, and The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe. After a night of hard partying in Mexico, Cassady wandered onto a deserted railroad, intending to walk fifteen miles to the next town. It was a cold rainy night and he fell asleep on the way wearing only a t-shirt and jeans. He was found beside the tracks the next morning in a coma and died on February 4, 1968. He never published a book during his life, but his unfinished autobiography was published as The First Third and Other Writings after his death. (Bowker Author Biography) toon minder

Bevat de naam: Cassidy Neal

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Werken van Neal Cassady

Gerelateerde werken

The Portable Beat Reader (Viking Portable Library) (1992) — Medewerker — 1,459 exemplaren
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Tagged

Algemene kennis

Geboortedatum
1926-02-08
Overlijdensdatum
1968-02-04
Geslacht
male
Nationaliteit
USA
Geboorteplaats
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Plaats van overlijden
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Beroepen
poet
Relaties
Cassady, Carolyn (wife)

Leden

Besprekingen

This book is mildly ridiculous by any standard. [a: Neal Cassady|79334|Neal Cassady|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1267720258p2/79334.jpg] is something of an unsung legend nowadays. The inspiration for [a: Jack Kerouac|1742|Jack Kerouac|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1430512644p2/1742.jpg]'s well-remembered Dean Moriarty, Cassady was the fuel that ignited the fire of the Beat movement. He was admired for his rapid-fire style, his mad adventures, and his boundless enthusiasm. Which is ridiculous, as I said before, as the first half of this book plods horribly.

That isn't to say this isn't interesting.

Cassady paints a vibrant picture of the time in which he lived. His concerns are, likewise, the concerns of any poor boy growing up in the 20s and 30s. The book really shines once the story truly gets going, which sadly is where it then stops. Thankfully, the letters and excerpts that pepper the back-end of the book are a welcome change from his restricted narrative style.

A must read for any fans of the Beats, if they'd care to get an idea for just how the movement itself came into being.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
Lepophagus | 4 andere besprekingen | Jun 14, 2018 |
As previous reviews have duly noted this book is somewhat difficult to get through. As the title (byline?) states, this is a collection of the letters that Neal (Kerouac's Dean Moriarty) composed (primarily) to his wife during his time in prison. I feel the need to warn as others have -- this is NOT for the big ole Dean Moriarty fans as the person portrayed here is an older Neal who seems almost embarassed by the picture of him that Kerouac's made famous. This is a book that is more for the discerning reader, or more for the completist, almost, of Cassady's life. This is not to say the book is uninteresting.

Grace Beats Karma is a fascinating look into what becomes of a self-loathing degenerate. It paints a picture of Neal in his most vulnerable times, insecure and embarrassed, almost wanton in his need for attention and awash in the deepest of guilt. He's a man who is painfully aware of his shortcomings and fast realizing there is no getting away from them. It is interesting to see the change in him, and sad to read these knowing what comes of him in the end.
… (meer)
 
Gemarkeerd
Lepophagus | Jun 14, 2018 |
For me this book is inspiration! Never forget child in yourself... Always explore and search for new things! This book is great - every life is treasure to be found!
 
Gemarkeerd
BojanKup | 4 andere besprekingen | Jan 6, 2014 |
Real shame Cassady wasn't able to finish this - all the same, the book is well worth reading as it genuinly conveys a real impression of the man behind the 'Dean Moriarty' myth.
 
Gemarkeerd
Polaris- | 4 andere besprekingen | Jan 26, 2011 |

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Statistieken

Werken
15
Ook door
3
Leden
706
Populariteit
#35,871
Waardering
3.9
Besprekingen
7
ISBNs
30
Talen
8
Favoriet
1

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