From Jack Kerouac to Vietnam and back again: Gerry Nicosia’s America

Through an afternoon of lectures, readings and debate Gerry will talk on several key sites in American twentieth century life and letters.

In particular the afternoon conference will address Nicosia’s groundbreaking research as an oral historian of Vietnam war veterans experience, before turning to the life and times of Jack Kerouac comparing and contrasting the Beat legend of the man with the real man – deeply tormented, sexually conflicted and deeply spiritual Catholic mystic and would be solitary (though he could never manage it).

Nicosia remains one of the leading biographers of Kerouac and his Pengiun published ‘Memory Babe’ is for many the definitive account of a writer who not only a shaped a literary history of America but invented an entire generation. 

Published poet Nicosia has also agreed to share some his own works with us over drinks at the end of the event to mark the publication of his new collection THE GHOSTS OF KEROUAC (holyIntoxicated Publications 2017).