Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) was an American novelist and poet closely associated with the Beat Generation. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, he studied at Columbia University and later traveled widely across the United States, experiences that shaped his writing. Kerouac achieved lasting fame with *On the Road* (1957), a novel that captured postwar restlessness through fast-paced, improvisatory prose and became a defining Beat text. His other notable books include *The Dharma Bums* (1958) and *Big Sur* (1962). Kerouac’s work explored freedom, friendship, spirituality, and the search for meaning. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida.