Walking Jack Kerouac’s London 1957 (4K)

American Beat Generation author Jack Kerouac, visited London in April 1957 while on a big trip just before the publication of his most celebrated book, On the Road. He recorded his trip in his book, Lonesome Traveler. This video follows the walk he took when he arrived by train at Victoria Station and walked past Buckingham Palace, up the Strand to Fleet Street to St Paul’s Cathedral. He then went to the King Lud pub for a ‘sixpenny Welsh rarebit and a stout’, before taking the bus back to Buckingham Gate. In Lonesome Traveler Kerouac wrote, ‘Paris is a woman but London is an independent man puffing his pipe in a pub’.

Music
Debussy_ Suite Bergamasque, CD 82_ III. Clair de lune - Mira Ma
All in Your Eyes - Nocturnal Spirits
J. S. Bach_ Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007_ V. Menuets I & II - Eric Jacobsen
Monkeys and Parrot - Hara Noda
Over the Meadow, Over the Stream - Alan Rogers

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Photo
Jack Kerouac by photographer Tom Palumbo. circa 1956
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

#londonwalk #jackkerouac
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Shot in 4K on a Olympus OM-D EM-1 mark 2 with audio recorded with a Rode Wireless GO

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[alphiedo]

Here I sit in the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, sipping coffee from my beloved Jack Kerouac mug, spending another morning planning my upcoming visit to London. Thank you for this walk. Jack's words, your voice, and the wonderful soundtrack brought tears to this old rambler's eyes. Hope to cross paths one day. Cheers!

[biffa]

Many thanks John. Another fan of ''on the road' and also Henry Miller, As one of Londons First cycle couriers on one of Englands first mountain bikes back in the 80s, knew London Back to front, signed up for the knowledge and then moved to Dartmoor a year into it. Back in Kent now as a knackered 61 yo, reliving my youth through your videos. V much appreciate every single one of them.

[lizstevenson]

January 1957 was my first year at Barnsbury Girls N.1, with bomb sights in most of the streets around that area. We still had coal fires to heat us but had to mux the coal with coke nuggates and even though rationing ended many things were scarce, such as clothes and certain foods. We were happy and everyone helped everyone else in those days. Fog was the norm and sleet too. Thank you John, nice vlog 💕🇦🇺

[caroledrury]

Loved this. My father’s old stomping ground which he waxed poetically about to us in the states. Now I can see what he was talking about

[colinmanning-nxkg]

Another interesting video, in 1957 I was a 13 year old grammar school boy and I believe the PM Harold MacMillan made the famous statement “ You’ve never had it so good “ for the reasons you gave, despite the Suez crisis and petrol rationing it must have been far better than what the adult population had experienced ten or so years earlier.

[susanwestern]

I was born in late 1957, but not in London. I remember reading 'On the Road' when I was a student in the late 1970s. I was facinated by it. But the book that really stuck in my mind from that time, was 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'.

[danielfreeley]

as a huge kerouac fan, and an even bigger fan of london. This is great

[Upe-fc]

Kerouac´s On the Road was a great reading experience for me as a young man, and I was born the year before he went to London. Thank´s for this video, a pleasure to watch.

[robertmaitland]

It's 35 years since I left London to go back north after despatch riding for 3 years, I still miss the place and all it's nooks and crannies I frequented back then, . Thanks for the memories John.

[keithprater]

1957 not that long ago but feels like another age now.enjoyable as always.stay safe.

[michaelessig]

The music accompanying the video is a perfect ballance of beauty and stark, thank you. I imagine Kerouac's visit to London as an alternate dimension to your walk. Echoes remain; only the nouns, the verbs and adjectives are all different.

[markriley]

I read all Kerouac’s work in 80s and got a lot from them. What a great video subject John. Great to hear Kerouac’s words as you are walking

[angusmacleod]

Informative and soothing - superb work John

[andrewramsey]

Great classic John Rogers video, loved it, cheers John.

[paulpj]

Only 3 mins in I can feel the passion with this John Thank to complement Thanks

[seanjamescameron]

Simply beautiful. Fleet Street area was my final walk before leaving London. Even in December 2023 it had changed so dramatically compared to 10 years earlier. Many happy memories. Look forward to the next adventure, wherever that may be.

[kellyspurgeon]

Greetings from Lawrence, Kansas, USA. Another american "on the road" book is Bound for Glory by Woody Guthrie. Guthrie's book predates Kerouac by about 18 years and it was highly influential to a young kid from Minnesota named Bob Dylan. Dylan of course was deeply steeped in the Beat world of poetry and writing. Many thanks for yet another delightful walk through your wonderful city. kelly

[rachyett]

Kerouac’s journey, your journey, overlaps with a commute I used to take. I shared a room with five others in Paddington but worked at Bush House. Every morning, I would take the tube in, but on the way home, I would run; Aldwych, The Strand, Trafalgar Square, The Mall, St James Park, Green Park, HydePark, Paddington. The big challenge was navigating Trafalgar Square without stopping. There was a lot of running on the spot, even in 1985, when there was a significant amount of traffic and pedestrians. However, once I traversed Trafalgar Square, I felt a great sense of liberation, freedom, and space as I entered the Mall. I was free of work and people, and I was no longer in danger of being run over. I remember once being stopped by an incredulous Scandinavian tourist demanding to know if THIS was really Buckingham Palace? He was viewing it from the good side.

[JulieTurner-ze]

Another very enjoyable and entertaining journey. Can’t wait for more in 2025. Your videos are wonderfully unique. Thank you, John!

[jcyates]

Long time admirer of your walks. Brings an additional view point when I years those same streets.

This one in particular touched me. My dad was a big Kerouac fan, forcing me to read On the Road. Will be sharing this with my mum & we'll likely follow those same steps soon. Thank you.