And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks

by Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs

Book Overview

The legendary novel whose true events inspired the film KILL YOUR DARLINGS In the summer of 1944, a shocking murder rocked the fledgling Beats. William S. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac, both still unknown, we inspired by the crime to collaborate on a novel, a hard-boiled tale of bohemian New York during World War II, full of drugs and art, obsession and brutality, with scenes and characters drawn from their own lives. Finally published after more than...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802144349
• ISBN13: 9780802144348
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Novel

I loved the bits of fiction added to this non-fiction story.

My heart is full...

with love for this bro-mance. These two fellas are seriously the ultimate combination in fantastical, drug-addled, creative "Beat" writing. Le sigh...

A Must Read

A very interesting and rarely used approach to the novel. Reading the work of two enormously famous writers from the days before they had even published a poem is a unique experience. All the stripped down glory of on the road with real sense of mystery. You know how it ends, but why does it get there? I wouldn't say this book is perfect, but I would still say it is very worth the read.

great colaboration

im glad this book was given its chance to be printed after all these years. an amazing story written before the author's days of fame.

very cool insight

This is a great book that provides you insight into the lives of two of America's greatest beat authors. A must read if you enjoy Kerouac and Burroughs.

At their most raw and cockiest

Presented for the first time, this legendary book chronicles the misadventures of the early founders of the Beat Generation nearly a decade before any of them acquired fame and notoriety. Here is Kerouac and Burroughs at their most raw and cockiest, characteristics that subsequently transmogrified to more gentle natures due to alcoholism, divorce, drug abuse, poverty, wanderlust, love, loss, failure, and success in the years to follow. There are many passages that illustrate this in the book, but here are a few that stand out: Our eggs had now arrived, but Phillip's eggs were absolutely raw. He called the waitress over and said, "These eggs are raw." He illustrated the point by dipping his spoon into the eggs and pulling it out with a long streamer of raw white. The waitress said, "You said soft-boiled eggs, didn't you?" We can't be taking things back for you." Phillip [Lucien Carr] pushed the eggs across the counter. "Two four-minute eggs," he said. "Maybe that will simplify matters." Then he turned to me and started talking about the New Vision. (p.16) We had cigarettes but no matches. Phil called out to the waitress, "I say, have you a match, miss?" The waitress said, "No." Phillip said, "The get some," in his clear, calm tone. (p. 18) She [Edie Parker] said, "What are you going to do out at sea?" and I [Jack Kerouac] said, "Don't worry about the future." (p.20)