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And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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.
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Description
First paperback publication of the legendary collaboration between William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, a hard-boiled crime novel about a shocking murder at the dawn of the Beat Generation.
In 1944, Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs were charged as accessories to murder. One of their friends, Lucien Carr, had stabbed another, David Kammerer. Carr had come to each of them and confessed; Kerouac helped him get rid of the weapon—neither told the police. For this failing, they were arrested.
Months later, the two writers—unpublished at the time—collaborated on And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks, a fictionalised account of the summer of the killing.
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks has been described in reviews as a compelling piece of work offering a fascinating glimpse into the early collaboration between Burroughs and Kerouac. Reviewers appreciate its raw, unpolished style and the alternating narrative voices, which paint a portrait of adventure and the counterculture of the time. Readers who enjoy noir elements and literary exploration of real murder case elements find its authenticity and historical context intriguing.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780141189673
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 06 August 2009
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Classics
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 13.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 171g
Pages: 224
About the Author
William S. Burroughs was born in 1914. His first published novel was the largely autobiographical Junky, which remains a classic depiction of drug dependency. He died in 1997. Jack Kerouac was born in 1922. In 1947, he hitchhiked across America and wrote his most famous novel On the Road. He died in 1969.
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