Jack Kerouac Biography

Fast Facts

• Was given an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Massachusetts in 2007
• Played running back for the football team at Columbia University
• Got his start as a writer by contributing articles to Columbia University's student newspaper
• Was best known for his work as the writer who influenced the beat movement
• During World War II, he served in the U․S․ Navy for eight days
• Growing up as a French speaker, he did not learn to speak English until he was six years old
• Started out writing his book "On the Road" in French at first