And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks (Penguin Modern Classics) - Softcover

Kerouac, Jack; Burroughs, William S.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141189673 ISBN 13: 9780141189673

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2009

Synopsis

In alternating chapters that reveal a nascent period in their development as two of the twentieth century's most influential writers, Beat Generation icons William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac's And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks is an electrifying true-life mystery, including afterword by James Grauerholtz in Penguin Modern Classics.

This is a hardboiled crime novel, and a true story. In 1944, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, then still unknown writers, were both arrested following a murder: one of their friends had stabbed another and then come to them for advice - neither had told the police. Later they wrote this fictionalised account of that summer - of a group of friends in wartime New York, moving through each other's apartments, drinking, necking, talking and taking drugs and haphazardly drifting towards a bloody crime. Unpublished for years, And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks is a remarkable insight into the lives and literary development of two great writers.

If you enjoyed And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks, you might like Kerouac's On the Road, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.

'The novel that kicked it all off'
Independent

'An insight into Kerouac before he went on the road and Burroughs before his drug use spiralled out of control, this is a major literary event'
GQ

About this title

Review:

"Reveal[s] two giants-to-be in the development stages of their craft.... With its evocative rendition of now-vanished saloons, bygone diners, and other landmarks of yesteryear, Burroughs and Kerouac may have inadvertently done for 1944 Greenwich Village what Joyce did for 1904 Dublin." -- George Kimball

"A combination hard-boiled murder mystery and existentialist lament on the meaninglessness of modern life--think Dashiell Hammett meets Albert Camus ... an essential document of the Beat Generation--filled with precise details and precisely recorded dialogue from a place and period, pre-Atomic Age America, now almost irretrievably lost to us. But Hippos is more than just a debunking of the standard histories of the period. It contains the first clear expression of the core Beat vision of America as insane and morally corrupt--a vision as apt and accurate today as it was when these outcasts and marginal outlaws began to emerge from their societal exile some sixty years ago." -- Gerald Nicosia

"[A] persuasive portrait of la vie boheme in all its aimlessness and squalor." -- Amanda Heller

"Illuminates the links between Sam Spade and Sal Paradise, noir nihilism and Beat exuberance." -- Timothy Hodler

"Spellbinding.... with spot-on dialogue and descriptions of seedy bars and jam-packed apartments, the authors serve up a fascinating look at a time of late night parties, casual sex and a devil-may-care approach to life." -- Jackie Crosby

"A fascinating snapshot from a lost era. If you're looking for the link between Hemingway's impotent postwar drifters in The Sun Also Rises, the barflies and Tralalas of Last Exit to Brooklyn and the zonked-out kids of Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero, look no further." -- John Walsh

"Eccentric, engaging, and readable ... What makes the novel particularly fascinating, however, is its ability to provide a window into the early autobiographical styles of both Burroughs and Kerouac as emerging, unpublished writers." -- Marcus Niski

"A combination hard-boiled murder mystery and existentialist lament- think Dashiell Hammett meets Albert Camus...an essential document of the Beat Generation." -Gerald Nicosia, "San Francisco Chronicle"
"[A] persuasive portrait of "la vie boheme" in all its aimlessness and squalor." -Amanda Heller, "The Boston Globe"
"A literary curiosity, a genuine collectible." -Carolyn See, "The Washington Post"
"Reveals two giants-to-be in the development stages of their craft...With its evocative rendition of now-vanished saloons, bygone diners, and other landmarks of yesteryear, Burroughs and Kerouac may have inadvertently done for 1944 Greenwich Village what Joyce did for 1904 Dublin." -George Kimball, "The Phoenix" (Boston)
"The appearance in print of And the Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks by William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac is a literary event, not only because it drew two of the three leading Beat writers into confederacy, but because the book told a story - of male friendship, gay obsession, and murder - that came to fascinate a score of American authors... It's a fascinating snapshot from a lost era. If you're looking for the link between Hemingway's impotent post-war drifters in The Sun Also Rises, the barflies and Tralalas of Last Exit to Brooklyn and the zonked-out kids of Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero, look no further." --John Walsh, "The Independent"
"In alternating chapters, Burroughs and Kerouac serve up a noir vision of Manhattan... Of the two, Kerouac, then in his early 20s, is the more developed writer, though Burroughs, an absolute beginner, already shows some of the interests and obsessions that will turn up in Naked Lunch and elsewhere, to say nothing of an obviously field-tested understanding of how syringes work... For his part, Kerouac recounts wartime experiences in the Merchant Marine, along with notes on the bar scene that would do Bukowski proud."
--"Kirkus Reviews"
"[Hippos] significantly pred

The legendary novel whose true events inspired the film KILL YOUR DARLINGS
A combination hard-boiled murder mystery and existentialist lament think Dashiell Hammett meets Albert Camusan essential document of the Beat Generation. Gerald Nicosia, "San Francisco Chronicle"
[A] persuasive portrait of "la vie boheme" in all its aimlessness and squalor. Amanda Heller, "The Boston Globe"
A literary curiosity, a genuine collectible. Carolyn See, "The Washington Post"
Reveals two giants-to-be in the development stages of their craftWith its evocative rendition of now-vanished saloons, bygone diners, and other landmarks of yesteryear, Burroughs and Kerouac may have inadvertently done for 1944 Greenwich Village what Joyce did for 1904 Dublin. George Kimball, "The Phoenix" (Boston)
"The appearance in print of And the Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks by William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac is a literary event, not only because it drew two of the three leading Beat writers into confederacy, but because the book told a story of male friendship, gay obsession, and murder that came to fascinate a score of American authors It s a fascinating snapshot from a lost era. If you re looking for the link between Hemingway s impotent post-war drifters in The Sun Also Rises, the barflies and Tralalas of Last Exit to Brooklyn and the zonked-out kids of Bret Easton Ellis s Less Than Zero, look no further. John Walsh, "The Independent"
In alternating chapters, Burroughs and Kerouac serve up a noir vision of Manhattan Of the two, Kerouac, then in his early 20s, is the more developed writer, though Burroughs, an absolute beginner, already shows some of the interests and obsessions that will turn up in Naked Lunch and elsewhere, to say nothing of an obviously field-tested understanding of how syringes work For his part, Kerouac recounts wartime experiences in the Merchant Marine, along with notes on the bar scene that would do Bukowski proud.
"Kirkus Reviews"
[Hippos] significantly predates Kerouac s major novels and illuminates his dynamic and productive literary friendship with William S. Burroughs. it is very charming. The conceit of switching back and forth between narrators every chapter also keeps things speeding alongit creates the illusion that one is listening to a radio broadcast from one station, only to have the frequency changed every few minutes, with the narrative sometimes overlapping and the two voices bleeding into another.
Andrew Martin, "Open Letters Monthly"
Illuminates the links between Sam Spade and Sal Paradise, noir nihilism and Beat exuberance. Timothy Hodler, "Details"
If you care about either of these beat masters I don t see how you can fail to enjoy [And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks]. Slight as it may seem at first glance, it s an invaluable document of literary history, glimmering with nascent genius.
Craig Seligman, "Bloomberg News"
Naughtily sexual and emotionally grimy, written is a prose style that is deadpan-dry and larded with hardboiled atmosphere. This oddly titled novel is an engaging literary and historical curio. Richard Labone, "Between the Lines"
Spellbinding. with spot-on dialogue and descriptions of seedy bars and jam-packed apartments, the authors serve up a fascinating look at a time of late night parties, casual sex and a devil-may-care approach to life. Jackie Crosby, "Minneapolis Star-Tribune"
An eccentric, engaging, and readable novel What makes the novel particularly fascinating, however, is its ability to provide a window into the early autobiographical styles of both Burroughs and Kerouac as emerging, unpublished writers.
Marcus Niski, "The Sydney Morning Herald"
As an insight into the formative years of the Beats, it s fascinating.
Nick Rennison, "The Sunday Times" (London)
"

The legendary novel whose true events inspired the film KILL YOUR DARLINGS

"A combination hard-boiled murder mystery and existentialist lament- think Dashiell Hammett meets Albert Camus...an essential document of the Beat Generation." -Gerald Nicosia, San Francisco Chronicle

"[A] persuasive portrait of la vie boheme in all its aimlessness and squalor." -Amanda Heller, The Boston Globe

"A literary curiosity, a genuine collectible." -Carolyn See, The Washington Post

"Reveals two giants-to-be in the development stages of their craft...With its evocative rendition of now-vanished saloons, bygone diners, and other landmarks of yesteryear, Burroughs and Kerouac may have inadvertently done for 1944 Greenwich Village what Joyce did for 1904 Dublin." -George Kimball, The Phoenix (Boston)

"The appearance in print of And the Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks by William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac is a literary event, not only because it drew two of the three leading Beat writers into confederacy, but because the book told a story - of male friendship, gay obsession, and murder - that came to fascinate a score of American authors... It's a fascinating snapshot from a lost era. If you're looking for the link between Hemingway's impotent post-war drifters in The Sun Also Rises, the barflies and Tralalas of Last Exit to Brooklyn and the zonked-out kids of Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero, look no further." --John Walsh, The Independent

"In alternating chapters, Burroughs and Kerouac serve up a noir vision of Manhattan... Of the two, Kerouac, then in his early 20s, is the more developed writer, though Burroughs, an absolute beginner, already shows some of the interests and obsessions that will turn up in Naked Lunch and elsewhere, to say nothing of an obviously field-tested understanding of how syringes work... For his part, Kerouac recounts wartime experiences in the Merchant Marine, along with notes on the bar scene that would do Bukowski proud."
--Kirkus Reviews

"[Hippos] significantly predates Kerouac's major novels and illuminates his dynamic and productive literary friendship with William S. Burroughs. ... it is very charming. ... The conceit of switching back and forth between narrators every chapter also keeps things speeding along--it creates the illusion that one is listening to a radio broadcast from one station, only to have the frequency changed every few minutes, with the narrative sometimes overlapping and the two voices bleeding into another."
--Andrew Martin, Open Letters Monthly

"Illuminates the links between Sam Spade and Sal Paradise, noir nihilism and Beat exuberance." --Timothy Hodler, Details

"If you care about either of these beat masters ... I don't see how you can fail to enjoy [And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks]. Slight as it may seem at first glance, it's an invaluable document of literary history, glimmering with nascent genius."
--Craig Seligman, Bloomberg News

"Naughtily sexual and emotionally grimy, written is a prose style that is deadpan-dry and larded with hardboiled atmosphere. This oddly titled novel is an engaging literary and historical curio." --Richard Labone, Between the Lines

"Spellbinding. ...with spot-on dialogue and descriptions of seedy bars and jam-packed apartments, the authors serve up a fascinating look at a time of late night parties, casual sex and a devil-may-care approach to life." --Jackie Crosby, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"An eccentric, engaging, and readable novel... What makes the novel particularly fascinating, however, is its ability to provide a window into the early autobiographical styles of both Burroughs and Kerouac as emerging, unpublished writers."
--Marcus Niski, The Sydney Morning Herald

"As an insight into the formative years of the Beats, it's fascinating."
--Nick Rennison, The Sunday Times (London)

About the Author:

Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, where, he said, he 'roamed fields and riverbanks by day and night, wrote little novels in my room, first novel written at age eleven, also kept extensive diaries and "newspapers" covering my own-invented horse-racing and baseball and football worlds' (as recorded in the novel Doctor Sax). He was educated by Jesuit brothers in Lowell. He said that he 'decided to become a writer at age seventeen under influence of Sebastian Sampas, local young poet, who later died on Anzio beach head; read the life of Jack London at eighteen and decided to also be a lonesome traveler; early literary influences Saroyan and Hemingway; later Wolfe (after I had broken leg in Freshman football at Columbia read Tom Wolfe and roamed his New York on crutches).'

Kerouac wished, however, to develop his own new prose style, which he called 'spontaneous prose.' He used this technique to record the life of the American 'traveler' and the experiences of the Beat generation of the 1950s. This may clearly be seen in his most famous novel On the Road, and also in The Subterraneans and The Dharma Bums. His first more orthodox published novel was The Town and the City. Jack Kerouac, who described himself as a 'strange solitary crazy Catholic mystic,' was working on his longest novel, a surrealistic study of the last ten years of his life when he died in 1969, aged forty-seven.

Other works by Jack Kerouac include Big Sur, Desolation Angels, Lonesome Traveler, Visions of Gerard, Tristessa, and a book of poetry called Mexico City Blues. On the Road: The Original Scroll, the full uncensored transcription of the original manuscript of On the Road, is published by Penguin Modern Classics.

William S. Burroughs was born on February 5, 1914 in St Louis. In work and in life Burroughs expressed a lifelong subversion of the morality, politics and economics of modern America. To escape those conditions, and in particular his treatment as a homosexual and a drug-user, Burroughs left his homeland in 1950, and soon after began writing. By the time of his death he was widely recognised as one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the twentieth century. His numerous books include Naked Lunch, Junky, Queer, Nova Express, Interzone, The Wild Boys, The Ticket That Exploded and The Soft Machine. After living in Mexico City, Tangier, Paris, and London, Burroughs finally returned to America in 1974. He died in 1997.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0141189673
• ISBN 13: 9780141189673
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224