Desolation Angels (novel)
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| Desolation Angels | |
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| Author | Jack Kerouac |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Duluoz legend |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Coward McCann |
| Publication date | 1965 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 366 pg |
| ISBN | NA |
| Preceded by | Visions of Gerard (1963) |
| Followed by | Satori in Paris (1966) |
Desolation Angels, published in 1965, yet written years earlier around the time On the Road was in the process of publication, is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Beat Generation author Jack Kerouac, which makes up part of his Duluoz Legend. According to the book's foreword, the opening section of the novel is almost directly taken from the journal he kept when he was a fire lookout on Desolation Peak in the North Cascade mountains of Washington state. Much of the psychological struggle which the novel's protagonist, Jack Duluoz, undergoes in the novel reflects Kerouac's own increasing disenchantment with the Buddhist philosophy with which he had previously been fascinated.
Contents |
[edit] Character Key [1]
"Because of the objections of my early publishers I was not allowed to use the same personae names in each work." [2]
| Real-life person | Character name |
|---|---|
| Jack Kerouac | Jack Duluoz |
| William S. Burroughs | Bull Hubbard |
| Carolyn Cassady | Evelyn |
| Neal Cassady | Cody Pomeray |
| Gregory Corso | Raphael Urso |
| Henri Cru | Deni Bleu |
| Claude Dahlenburg | Paul |
| Robert Duncan | Geoffrey Donald |
| Bill Garver | Old Bull Gaines |
| Allen Ginsberg | Irwin Garden |
| Louis Ginsberg | Harry Garden |
| Joyce Glassman | Alyce Newman |
| Randall Jarrell | Varnum Random |
| Philip Lamantia | David D'Angeli |
| Robert LaVigne | Levesque |
| Norman Mailer | Harvey Marker |
| Michael McClure | Patrick McLear |
| Locke McCorkle | Kevin McLoch |
| John Montgomery | Alex Fairbrother |
| Peter Orlovsky | Simon Darlovsky |
| Alan Watts | Alex Aums |
| Gary Snyder | Jarry Wagner |
| William Carlos Williams | Dr. Williams |
[edit] Style
The book is broken up into two sections called Desolation Angels and Passing Through, which are then subdivided into many shorter parts. Each part focuses on a specific location where Kerouac is at that time. The first section covers Kerouac's time on the mountain and immediately after he leaves the fire lookout. The foreword of the book mentions that Kerouac was hoping to get the second section, Passing Through, published as a standalone novel.
[edit] References in Popular Culture
- Bad Company's 1979 album Desolation Angels was named after this novel.
- Kathy Acker's Novel Kathy Goes to Haiti references this book.
- A card in the game Magic: The Gathering is named Desolation Angel, referencing this novel.
- The Austin-based country band Reckless Kelly has a song titled "Desolation Angels."
- Desolation Row, by Bob Dylan, is said to get its title from this novel.
[edit] References
- ^ Sandison, Daivd. Jeck Kerouac: An Illustrated Biography. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. 1999
- ^ Kerouac, Jack. Visions of Cody. London and New York: Penguin Books Ltd. 1993.
- 1965. Desolation Angels
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