Point of View

The point of view in Desolation Angels is that of the author, Jack Kerouac. In first person, Kerouac relays nearly a year's adventures and travels while in the midst of a change in the face of literature in the 1950s. By using the first person, Kerouac is able to add a depth and character to a work that might otherwise seem forced or unrealistic. The personal experiences especially ring true, flavored by Kerouac's unusual use of descriptive language.

The downfall of the first person narrative is that Kerouac is prone to be disjointed in thought, often repeating stories already told or events that seem to be out of order so that the reader must return to previous chapters to make sense of the train of thought.

Setting

Kerouac is known for his travels to many cities and countries, often on whim. The novel begins on Desolation...