Jack Kerouac's Fabled Scroll Hits Market: A Window into the Beat Generation's Rebel Spirit
A rare and iconic piece of American literary history is set to go under the hammer in March when Jack Kerouac's original typescript scroll for his defining novel, On the Road, is auctioned off at Christie's in New York. The 37-meter-long (121ft) roll of paper, written by Kerouac over three weeks in April 1951, has been described as "the most iconic artefact of the Beat Generation" and one of the most celebrated documents in American literature.
This unique scroll, measuring nearly 40 feet long, is a testament to Kerouac's frenzied writing process. Rather than using traditional page layouts, he taped together sheets of tracing paper to avoid changing pages as he typed, creating an unbroken narrative that now stands as a tribute to his rebellious spirit and rejection of conformity.
When the scroll is unfurled, its contents reveal no paragraphs or chapters – only a fluid, uninterrupted flow of prose. The use of real names for characters, which Kerouac had later changed at the publisher's behest, adds to the authenticity of this manuscript. This original document has captivated scholars and fans alike for decades, with many considering it the most important literary artifact still in private hands.
In a nod to Kerouac's own views on public libraries, Christie's specialist Heather Weintraub hopes that a public institution will eventually acquire the scroll. However, others believe that its new owner could follow the late Jim Irsay's example and make the document accessible to the public.
The sale of On the Road's first draft scroll is part of a larger series of auctions from the Jim Irsay Collection, featuring an array of cultural artefacts including Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for Hey Jude, Sylvester Stallone's Rocky script notebook, and Jim Morrison's journal.
A rare and iconic piece of American literary history is set to go under the hammer in March when Jack Kerouac's original typescript scroll for his defining novel, On the Road, is auctioned off at Christie's in New York. The 37-meter-long (121ft) roll of paper, written by Kerouac over three weeks in April 1951, has been described as "the most iconic artefact of the Beat Generation" and one of the most celebrated documents in American literature.
This unique scroll, measuring nearly 40 feet long, is a testament to Kerouac's frenzied writing process. Rather than using traditional page layouts, he taped together sheets of tracing paper to avoid changing pages as he typed, creating an unbroken narrative that now stands as a tribute to his rebellious spirit and rejection of conformity.
When the scroll is unfurled, its contents reveal no paragraphs or chapters – only a fluid, uninterrupted flow of prose. The use of real names for characters, which Kerouac had later changed at the publisher's behest, adds to the authenticity of this manuscript. This original document has captivated scholars and fans alike for decades, with many considering it the most important literary artifact still in private hands.
In a nod to Kerouac's own views on public libraries, Christie's specialist Heather Weintraub hopes that a public institution will eventually acquire the scroll. However, others believe that its new owner could follow the late Jim Irsay's example and make the document accessible to the public.
The sale of On the Road's first draft scroll is part of a larger series of auctions from the Jim Irsay Collection, featuring an array of cultural artefacts including Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics for Hey Jude, Sylvester Stallone's Rocky script notebook, and Jim Morrison's journal.
This is insane! Can you even imagine sitting down to write a 37-meter-long manuscript without stopping? I mean, the guy was like a machine or something. And can you believe it's been sold so many times already and it's still considered this rare and iconic piece of history? It's crazy to think that someone will finally be able to see what Jack Kerouac had in mind when he wrote On the Road without having to read through all the edited versions.
But seriously, I think it would be amazing if it ended up in a public institution where people could come and see it. Like, can you imagine being able to read that scroll and seeing the real handwritten notes and stuff? It's just so cool.
! I mean can you imagine being able to read Kerouac's original thoughts & feelings on paper? It's crazy that it's been kept private for so long, but now it's gonna be auctioned off & maybe even end up in a public library 
. I think whoever buys it should definitely make it accessible to the public, like Jim Irsay did with his other cool stuff 
. It's all about preserving our cultural history & sharing it with everyone! 
but i gotta wonder what kind of buyer would be willing to shell out big bucks for this thing? is it just some collector looking to own a piece of history or is it someone who's actually interested in reading it and learning from Kerouac's writing style? 
! The fact that it's been kept private for so long makes me wonder what kind of secrets are hidden on those 37 meters of paper 
. It'd be amazing if the new owner decided to share it with the public, too - I mean, can you imagine being able to read Kerouac's original draft and getting a glimpse into the mind of this literary genius? Mind. Blown 
i can only imagine how epic it must feel to hold that scroll in your hands and read the original words of jack kerouac... it's like being part of literary legend 
i do hope whoever buys it decides to make it public for everyone to enjoy - can you even imagine seeing this masterpiece up close? 
, I mean who gets to see a part of one of the most iconic novels in American lit? On the other hand, it kinda bums me out that it's gonna end up in some rich person's collection where nobody can really appreciate its significance 
...I hope whoever buys it makes it available for the public to see at least sometimes 
.
. I mean, at least it'll be locked away and not being seen by anyone... except for those who can afford to pay thousands to see it 
I think it's time for our museums and libraries to step up and make this kind of cultural treasure available to the public. It's not just about preserving art, it's about preserving a piece of our shared history 
. And don't even get me started on how real names are now gone because the publisher wanted to change them 
. It's still a work in progress, literally – it's not like they're selling us some finished product. I guess if someone wants to shell out the cash for a piece of literary history, that's their prerogative 
. And the fact that it's being auctioned off is just wild. I hope whoever buys it does right by it and makes sure it's preserved for future generations to enjoy. It would be amazing if it ended up in a public library or museum where everyone can access it 
anyone think it'll end up in a public library tho? would be awesome if ppl could access it for all to enjoy 
not some rare collector's item that should just be locked away
. Its like Kerouac said, "you cant kill an idea with paper" 
. The fact that its got real names in it adds to the authenticity, but also makes me think about how much of our history has been altered or lost over time