This in-depth biography--the first to explore the ups and downs of Neal Cassady--takes a look at the man who achieved immortality as Dean Moriarty, the central character in Jack Kerouac's On the Road. A charismatic, funny, articulate, and formidably intelligent man, Cassady was also a compulsive womanizer who lived life on the edge. His naturalistic, conversational writing style inspired Kerouac, who lifted a number of passages verbatim and unaccredited from Cassady's letters for significant episodes in On the Road. Drawing on a wealth of new research and full cooperation from central figures in his life--including Carolyn Cassady and Ken Kesey--this account captures Cassady's unique blend of inspired lunacy and deep spirituality.--From publisher description.
