Jack Kerouac

Kerouac Letter To Lois Beckwith [Signed]

An intimate note from Jack Kerouac to his girlfriend Lois Beckwith, written between 1959-1962. In 1955, Lois Sorrells Beckwith wed actor Robert Sorrells in California, though the marriage lasted only a year. After their separation, she returned to Northport, New York. There, in 1958, she encountered Jack Kerouac and soon entered into a romantic relationship with him that spanned from 1959 to 1962.

During this time, Beckwith also emerged as a poet. Her work was featured in the 1964 Italian-American Beat anthology Poesia degli ultimi americani, curated by Fernanda Pivano, where four of her poems appeared.

Following her relationship with Kerouac, Beckwith was involved with Lucien Carr from 1962 until 1964. That same year, she married the artist Jacques Beckwith. Kerouac later fictionalized her as the character “Louise” in his novel Big Sur, published in 1963.

Separately, Kerouac had written Visions of Gerard in early 1956. Though it wouldn’t reach publication until 1963, the novel draws deeply from his memories of his older brother, Gerard, who died at the age of nine in 1926 from rheumatic fever.

Note torn from a notepad, with spiral perforations on the top edge, measuring 9 in. x 6 in. The note reads, in Kerouac's hand: "Dear Lois - See you Friday - Got your beautiful letter about Gerard - We've got to go be quiet. Jack XXX" There is a pencil drawing of a mountain or leaf outline above his signature.

Framed note, matted, with a black and white photo of Kerouac holding a cat. Frame measures w 13.25 in. x h 24.75 in. with white background and engraved black placard reading 'Jack Kerouac' below note. SD4

. Item #117

Price: $7,500.00