LITERARY SLUGFEST: Beagle vs. Kerouac

I SEE BY MY OUTFIT (Peter Beagle,1965) VS. ON THE ROAD (Jack Kerouac,1957)

At first glance, you wouldn't think this is a fair fight. One of these books is the quintessential work of the last true American literary movement (if you have to ask which one, stop reading now; CSI will be on soon), and the other one I'm betting you've never heard of. It probably isn't fair. But sometimes you throw a wet marmot in a cockfight and, well, you'd be surprised. So let's see what happens.


ROUND ONE (style):This is the first place fairness comes into debate. Kerouac's novel is not only a breakaway from tradition in terms of narrative structure, it's also an exercise in his own form of spontaneous prose. Beagle's book, a nonfiction account of he and a friend's trip cross-country in the mid-60's on motor scooter (no shit) is just that: a standard account, no narrative or stylistic flourishes, just the truth, picaresque though it be. So although at times I prefer Beagle's straightforward style, you just can't fuck with genius. Pardon the language. Round one to the Beat Bomber.

ROUND TWO (voice): The blatant differences in style would seem to make any comparisons on voice equally unmatched, however, considering the similarities in narrative - 2 young men, a journey cross-country with no real destination in mind, America between WWII and Vietnam, a time of expansion, exploration, a certain sense of frivolity about it all, but also a certain sense of desperation - considering these similarities, though the round still has to go to Kerouac, it's not because his voice is better than Beagle's, it's that it's better-suited. If both men had written a book about a professor in crisis somewhere in Ohio, or a family's coming to reckoning in the wake of a death, Beagle's dependable, traditional voice would be the more appropriate. But for a subject matter such as this - a man's ultimate freedom, in essence - it needs to sound reckless, not steadied, because that's what self-discovery is: reckless.

ROUND THREE (overall): Well, Beagle was wobbling after the last two rounds, and he's certainly in no shape to take this one. Like I said up top, one of these books is the quitessential work of the last true American literary movement, and one you've probably haven't heard of. So no surprises here; the cock took the marmot. But though I See By My Outfit goes home a little battered, you've heard of it now, and if you're a fan of the champ, you should check out the contender, because it's exactly that, a tamer, more level-headed approach to the same ideas that made Kerouac a shaper of culture; think On the Road, the made-for-Network-TV movie, on scooters, starring someone you like. A good ride. But the winner, and still champion: On the Road, by Jack Kerouac.