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Tristessa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article refers to the short novel by Jack Kerouac. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see Tristessa (song)
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| Author | Jack Kerouac |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Avon |
| Released | 1960 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 96 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-14-016811-7 |
| Preceded by | Book of Dreams (1960) |
| Followed by | Visions of Cody (1960) |
Tristessa is a short novel by Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac set in Mexico City. It is based on his relationship with a Mexican prostitute (the title character). The woman's real name was Esperanza ("hope" in Spanish); Kerouac changed her name to Tristessa ("tristeza" means sadness in Spanish).
This novel has just a translation into Spanish, and it was made by Jorge García-Robles, in Mexico City.
Allen Ginsberg, in describing the book, wrote, "Tristessa's a narrative meditation studying a hen, a rooster, a dove, a cat, a dog, family meat, and a ravishing, ravished junky lady'. In "Tristessa", Kerouac attempts to sketch for the reader a picture of quiet transcendence in hectic and sometimes dangerous circumstances. He chronicles her addiction to morphine and impoverished life with descriptions tinged with elements of her saintly beauty and her innocence.
Early in the novel, Kerouac attempts to communicate his Buddhist beliefs. These beliefs become entangled as a metaphor in the unfamiliar culture and language that Kerouac tries to grasp and make contact with in the story.
“Tristessa says “How is Jack,–?–” She always asks: “Why are you so sad??–’Muy dolorosa’” and as though to mean “You are very full of pain,” for pain means dolor–"I am sad because all la vida es dolorosa,” I keep replying, hoping to teach her Number One of the Four Great Truths,–Besides, what could be truer?”
The contrast between the initial reaction that the reader may have of the impoverished, marginalized life of Tristessa and the self-destructive nature of her addiction contrast with the found-beauty of Kerouac's descriptions. Kerouac's friend and fellow Beat writer William Burroughs also appears as a character in "Tristessa".
A movie adaptation is in the works to bring this novel to life. The screenplay is being re-worked by the unknown American writer, Paul Magno, a recent signee to the Fondo Economico de Cultura Publishing House in Mexico City. Edward Norton is slated in the role of Jack Kerouac.
- Kerouac, Jack (1960). Tristessa. ISBN 0-14-016811-7.
It's incorrect about William Burroughs, it's actually Bill Garver, a similar character.[citation needed]