Book Review: "Orpheus Emerged" by Jack Kerouac

There's never really a set time where Kerouac has to be read and I think that is the joy of certain authors. It takes real talent to break me out of my reading hyperfixations in order to read something completely different. Kerouac is one of those authors. When I see a book by him I perhaps have not read, I must read it regardless of what strangely specific topic I am reading about at that moment. Orpheus Emerged is one of those books. I think you are as surprised as I am that there's still stuff by Kerouac that I haven't read but, I hope that this does not complete the bibliography though I'll have to look it up and find out.

Orpheus Emerged is a novella written by Jack Kerouac in 1945 when he was just 23 years old and studying at Columbia University. Though it remained unpublished during his lifetime, it was discovered after his death and released in 2000 by his estate. The novella explores the passions, conflicts, and artistic struggles of a group of bohemian intellectuals searching for truth while immersed in university life. No, it is not his usual request of writing stream of consciousness, but to be in your early 20s and still write something so critical and observant is something to be celebrated.

The novella also explores the existential struggle between living for art and living for life itself. The protagonist, Michael, embodies the artistic genius, while Paul represents the spirit of life and love. Their dynamic reflects a deeper philosophical debate about the role of art in human existence. Kerouac wrote Orpheus Emerged shortly after forming connections with Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, Lucien Carr, and others at Columbia University, figures who would later become the core of the Beat Generation. The novella reflects his early artistic explorations before he fully developed his distinctive writing style. Now, I don't like the hate the book gets for being underdeveloped because when you've read lots of developed work by an author, you're always interested in seeing whatever they wrote before they became famous for a style.

Kerouac weaves Greek mythology into the story, particularly through the character of Michael, whose artistic calling parallels that of Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician. Helen, another central figure, symbolises beauty and inspiration but also foreshadows inevitable doom, much like her mythological namesake. Michael’s journey is marked by emotional turmoil and destructive relationships. His downward spiral begins with a violent outburst against Paul, followed by an ill-fated affair with Marie, the wife of another character, Anthony.

These events contribute to his increasing instability and existential crisis. The theme of existentialism is deeply explored in this book and texts such as The Stranger by Albert Camus and Amerika by Franz Kafka make brilliant companions to this novel. The existential crisis is nearly always backed up by the morality argument and the characters are seen as those who ponder about whether it is a good idea to live a long life well and good, or live a short life with purpose and ideas - also showing how one cannot do both.

As an early work, Orpheus Emerged suffers from structural flaws, unclear settings, and unconvincing dialogue. Whether intentional or not, its ambiguity limits its impact as a serious novel. However, when viewed as a thematic experiment rather than a polished work, its role in Kerouac’s artistic development becomes clearer. I have to say that sometimes I felt the imagery to be a bit shoddily written but it still retained the aesthetic of the beat generation with their terse ways and their strange conversation. It sort of reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend about the song Wild Child by Lou Reed. I absolutely love it, but my friend thinks the lyrics are bland and weird. It's almost as though that was the entire point.

All in all, while Orpheus Emerged was a stylistic failure in Kerouac’s own assessment (it was not published in his lifetime), it played a crucial role in shaping his literary evolution. Recognising its limitations, he shifted towards a more structured narrative in The Town and The City. This transition marked the beginning of his journey toward the spontaneous prose style that would later define his most famous works.