On the Road PDF is a novel by American author Jack Kerouac, first published in 1957. The novel is based on the travels of Kerouac and his friends across the United States. It is considered a defining work of the postwar Beat and Counterculture generations, with its protagonists living life against a backdrop of jazz, poetry, and drug use.
On the Road was published by Viking Press in 1957. The novel was an instant success, selling more than three million copies. It has been translated into more than 20 languages and remains one of the most popular novels of the 20th century.
The novel received mixed reviews upon its release, with many critics praising Kerouac’s writing style but criticizing the novel’s lack of plot. However, the novel has since been praised by many writers and intellectuals and is considered a classic of American literature. On the Road is available in a variety of formats, including paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook.
Table of Contents
On the Road Summary
The novel starts off with the narrator, Sal Paradise, receiving a letter from his friend Dean Moriarty, who is currently on a cross-country trip. Sal eagerly decides to join him and leaves New York City immediately.
The two friends travel across America, meeting various people and experiencing different things along the way. They eventually end up in San Francisco where Dean introduces Sal to his wife, Marylou. The three of them then go on a road trip together, further exploring the country.
Throughout the novel, Sal and Dean’s friendship is tested multiple times but they always manage to come back to each other. In the end, Sal decides to settle down and start a family, while Dean continues to live life on the road. If you want to learn more about the characters, relationships, and events in On the Road, read on for a detailed summary of the novel.
Details of On the Road Book
| Book | On the Road |
| Author | Jack Kerouac |
| Original language | English |
| Originally published | September 5, 1957 |
| Category | Fiction |
| Publisher | Viking Press |
| Total Pages | 320 |
| Format | PDF, ePub |
Multiple Languages Editions of On the Road Book
On the Road book has been translated and published in multiple languages over the years. The first translation was into French, followed by Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
| Book Editions | Check Now |
|---|---|
| English | Check Price |
| German | Check Price |
| French | Check Price |
| Spanish | Check Price |
| Portuguese | Check Price |
| Chinese | Check Price |
| Japanese | Check Price |
About the Author
Jack Kerouac was an American novelist and poet of French-Canadian descent. He is considered a major figure of the Beat Generation and its literary predecessor, the Lost Generation. Kerouac is recognized for his method of spontaneous prose. Along with William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, he is among the best-known Beat writers.
Kerouac became interested in writing and literature at an early age. He attended Columbia University on a football scholarship, but he dropped out after a year to pursue his writing career. He began traveling across the country, working odd jobs as he went. His first novel, The Town and the City, was published in 1950.
Kerouac’s best-known work is On the Road, which was published in 1957. The novel is based on his own experiences traveling across the country. On the Road became a bestseller and made Kerouac a celebrity. However, he was disappointed by the commercial success of the book and retreated from public life.
Kerouac died in 1969 at the age of 47. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
On the Road PDF Free Download
Click on the download button below to get a pdf file of the On the Road book.
Similar Books to On the Road Book
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
- Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Moby Dick by Herman Melville
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
FAQs(Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the theme of On the Road?
The central theme of On the Road is the search for meaning and purpose in life.
How many pages is On the Road?
On the Road is approximately 340 pages long.
How long does it take to read On the Road?
It typically takes most people about six hours to read On the Road.
Is On the Road a true story?
On the Road is based on Jack Kerouac’s own experiences traveling across America with his friends in the late 1940s and early 1950s. While many of the characters and events in the novel are fictionalized, the general story is true.
What is the writing style of On the Road?
On the Road is written in a highly experimental style, mixing elements of fiction and autobiography.
