Jack Kerouac, Tristessa, 1960

Two trips into the junkie houses of Mexico City in pursuit of Tristessa, a beautiful Mexican morphine addict, make this one of Kerouac’s most uncomfortable and tragic short books. The “kickwriting” occasionally goes into overdrive and Kerouac often risks losing the reader if you don’t keep up with the pace. It’s a long meditation on a slow loss, and one (as usual) fuelled by plenty of drink and drugs.  PY

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