"On the Road" is a novel by Jack Kerouac, published in 1957. The novel is considered a defining work of the Beat Generation, a group of writers and artists who rejected mainstream values and sought to create a new, more authentic way of life.
The novel tells the story of Sal Paradise, a young writer, and his travels across the United States with his friend Dean Moriarty, a charismatic and unpredictable drifter. As they journey from New York to San Francisco and back, Sal and Dean encounter a wide range of people and experiences, and the novel becomes a celebration of freedom, youth, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.
"On the Road" is a pioneering work of American literature that helped to define a generation and a cultural movement. It has been widely read and studied for its portrayal of countercultural values and its portrayal of the American landscape and way of life.