Between the Covers

Softcover. Magazine. 74pp. Tape bound stiff wrap with a tiny nick on the front wrap, still fine. This literary magazine features the first published appearance of Neal Cassady's "The First Third," which inspired Jack Kerouac's *On The Road*. This 5,000 word excerpt is taken from the 13,000-word "Joan Anderson Letter" sent to Kerouac by Cassady, then subsequently passed on to Allen Ginsberg, and then poet and Ace Books rep, Gerd Stein, who according to legend, lost the original off the side of his house boat. The letter was long thought to be lost, but was rediscovered recently. The surviving portion, printed here, was likely copied by Kerouac himself shortly before he started work on his now classic novel. Following the excerpt is Kerouac's reply letter to Cassady, a gushing letter of praise in which he say Cassady has overshadowed the best writers of the day. "The First Third" was used as the basis for the 1997 film, *The Last Time I Committed Suicide* starring Thomas Janes and Keanu Reeves. The magazine also includes contributions from Charles Bukowski, Kenneth Patchen, Anselm Hollo, Kirby Doyle, John Rechy, Lenore Kandel, David Meltzer, Bob Kaufman, and Grover Lewis.

Item #456683