Legendary Jack Kerouac manuscript on display in Birmingham

COMING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM - BARBER INSTITUTE
The Famous 1951 Scroll Manuscript of Jack Kerouac's On the Road
Exhibition date: 3 December 2008 -27 January 2009

Coming to the Barber Institute at the University of Birmingham: an exhibition featuring the original typescript manuscript of On the Road - the world-famous On the Road scroll of 1951, timed to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the book's publication in the UK and Eire (1958). The scroll typescript is the most expensive literary manuscript in the world.
Much of the fame of On the Road resides in large part in the way the first full version of the novel was composed.

Jack Kerouac undertook three weeks almost non-stop typing on eight sheets of teletype paper taped together to form a continuous roll of paper 127 feet long - so Kerouac did not have to pause to feed new paper into his typewriter in order to preserve better the rush of his inspiration. The result was a particular 'spontaneous' style marked by energy, vitality and directness. It is based on Kerouac's autobiographical experiences and, unlike the published version, does not disguise the protagonists under pseudonyms. Thus William Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg and Neal Cassady are all directly named.

The scroll consequently has an iconic cultural status, which secured a winning bid of 2.5 million dollars at auction.

Jack Kerouac remains one of the best-known and most popular post-war US writers, one with a truly global reputation. His books remain in print throughout the world. His popularity spreads worldwide: for example, he is very popular in Japan - almost as popular as in the UK and the USA . His most famous book, On the Road is generally regarded as the founding text of the so-called Beat Generation-a movement which featured, besides Ginsberg, Burroughs and Cassady, Gregory Corso, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Diane DiPrima and many others.

Other events supporting this exhibition include:
A two-day conference on Jack Kerouac, the Beats and the Post-Beats, Friday 12 and Saturday 13 December 2008. Go to http://www.kerouac.bham.ac.uk/index.htm <http://www.kerouac.bham.ac.uk/index.htm>

A film showing, in conjunction with the conference, on Friday 12 December in the Arts Building, University of Birmingham, featuring a working edit of Nic Saunder's new film, 'Curses and Sermons', the second collaboration between Michael McClure and director Nic Saunders (who will attend the showing and take Q&A after the screening -- visit: www.14167films.com <http://www.14167films.com/> ) and a showing of 'Pull My Daisy'.

A 'British Beat' poetry reading in the Underground Bar , Guild of Students, University of Birmingham and featuring Ian Macmillan, David Tipton and Jim Burns -- compered by John Lucas

This exhibition is funded by the University of Birmingham with additional contributions from the University of Birmingham's US Alumni Fund and Waterstones.

Contact name:
Dick Ellis
Dept. of American & Canadian Studies
University of Birmingham
Birmingham B15 2TT
United Kingdom
r.j.ellis@bham.ac.uk
www.uscanada.bham.ac.uk