The Dharma Bums - Jack Kerouac

'The Dharma Bums' (1958) is a beautiful book written by Beat writer Jack Kerouac. The story is thouhgt to be semi autobiographical and follows Ray Smith (again thought to be based upon Kerouac himself) as he lives the life of a 'beat' and a 'bum', meeting interesting characters along the way and learning about himself on this voyage of self discovery. The significant characters he meets include Japhy Ryder (arguably based on other prolific 'beat' writer and poet Gary Snyder), Henry Morley (John Montgomery) and Alvah Goldbrook (beat poet Allen Ginsberg). Meeting Japhy Ryder, a man who attepmts to fully embrace a naturistic and Buddhist way of life, living in ...  Read the complete review