On the Road: The Original Scroll

By: Jack Kerouac

Narrated by: John Ventimiglia

The legendary 1951 scroll draft of On the Road, published word for word as Kerouac originally composed it.

Though Jack Kerouac began thinking about the novel that was to become On the Road as early as 1947, it was not until three weeks in April 1951, in an apartment on West 20th Street in Manhattan, that he wrote the first full draft that was satisfactory to him. Typed out as one long, single-spaced paragraph on eight long sheets of tracing paper that he later taped together to form a 120-foot scroll, this document is among the most significant, celebrated, and provocative artifacts in contemporary American literary history. It represents the first full expression of Kerouac's revolutionary aesthetic, the identifiable point at which his thematic vision and narrative voice came together in a sustained burst of creative energy. It was also part of a wider vital experimentation in the American literary, musical, and visual arts in the post-World War II period.

It was not until more than six years later, and after several new drafts, that Viking published, in 1957, the novel known to us today. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of On the Road, Viking will publish the 1951 scroll in a standard book format. The differences between the two versions are principally ones of significant detail and altered emphasis. The scroll is slightly longer and has a heightened linguistic virtuosity and a more sexually frenetic tone. It also uses the real names of Kerouac's friends instead of the fictional names he later invented for them. The transcription of the scroll was done by Howard Cunnell who, along with Joshua Kupetz, George Mouratidis, and Penny Vlagopoulos, provides a critical introduction that explains the fascinating compositional and publication history of On the Road and anchors the text in its historical, political, and social contexts.

©2007 Jack Kerouac (P)2007 Penguin Audio

perfect voice

This audiobook does an amazing job of capturing Kerouac's rhythm and voice. As a longtime fan I was skeptical, but I highly recommend it.

An American classic

Although it's quite a lengthy book, it is magnificently written like one long train of thought of a man traveling across America in the late 1940s and early 50s. The narrator does in excellent job giving life to the story.

essential audiblechoicethe road goes on foreverlet jack be your guide.

a grate trip across americaaperfect listen fo long rideslet jack be your co pilot neds some coltrane back groud music.

Absolutely Incredible

We are so blessed to have had Kerouac to tell us this tale - this perceptive portrait of a defining American age...

Even better than the published version

I’ve read On the Road several times over the years, but this was my first time with the Original Scroll. Hearing the story with the real people’s names attached and nothing edited out by prudish censors made the book so much truer and immediate. The narrator also does a fantastic job. I love his casual style and NY accent. It is exactly the voice I wanted Jack to have. Whether you’ve read OTR a dozen times or never yet, this is a wonderful version of one of the greatest books in American literature.

Wonderful

Absolutely an incredible novel with beautiful writing, Kerouac transports you through the story of his life with his words. The narration is well done and only adds to it.

Better version

What about John Ventimiglia’s performance did you like?

John Ventimiglia must have listened to the recordings of Kerouac, because he captured Kerouac's voice really well. Kerouac had a funny way of pronouncing words with a double o sound, (doom, gloom) and John nailed it.

Any additional comments?

It's worth comparing the scroll with the first-published, edited, and censored version. The scroll is actually a better book.

An honest classic

Jack Kerouac’s account of his many road trips with his friends will make you feel like you are taking the journey with them. They experience all sorts of crazy things in life that people almost never talk about, but Kerouac is raw and open about his adventures, which is refreshing. After reading it, Kerouac almost feels like a close friend who just told you all of his wild stories on the road and that’s just one of the things that make this book a great read!

P.S. I loved the narrator’s performance!

lovely wild book.

lovely, nice to have it read to me....than reading it 50 years ago.....wild crazy people living outside the box. narrative was very well done.

Incredible journey made better by the performance

This is the best version, hands down. Scroll version and a voice that connects you to the author better than any I have experienced. Masterpiece.