Original manuscript of Jack Kerouac's On the Road to be exhibited in London The way Kerouac wrote the novel has become a legend among fans of the American 'beat' era in the Sixties. Kerouac and poet Allen Ginsberg both promoted the story behind its creation calling it a 'spontaneous bop prosody'. On the Road was published in 1957 and became one of the defining books of its generation. Largely autobiographical, the novel follows Sal Paradise and a group of his friends, including the eccentric Dean Moriarty, as they journey across America. Sal Paradise was based on the author, while Dean Moriarty was based on Kerouac's friend and mentor Neal Cassidy. Allen Ginsberg and William S Burroughs also feature in the novel. The first ever film adaptation of the novel will be released in the UK on October 12 starring Kristen Stewart. The exhibition at the British Library opens on October 4, just before the film, directed by Walter Salles, is released. The scroll will be shown alongside several other exhibits including sound recordings of Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. There will also be a rarely heard recording of Neal Cassidy reading from Proust. You can collect your free copy of On the Road by Jack Kerouac, from Morrisons, Easons or a participating independent retailer on Saturday, September 22 using the voucher printed inside The Daily Telegraph. Offer available while stocks last. See here for more information and the newspaper on Saturday, September 22 for full terms and conditions. The British Library's On the Road: Jack Kerouac's Manuscript Scroll runs until December 27