Big Sur characters

Also known as Jack Kerouac

Appears from the start

A successful writer whose public fame has left him besieged by visitors, expectations, and his own worsening dependence on alcohol. Hoping to recover in solitude, he secretly travels to a friend's remote cabin on the Big Sur coast.

Appears from the start

A San Francisco poet and publisher who owns the cabin in Bixby Canyon and lends it to Jack as a refuge. His calm generosity contrasts with Jack's increasingly unstable state.

First appears in chapter 3

Jack's longtime friend, once a restless companion on cross-country journeys and now working hard to support his family. His energy and complicated domestic life remain powerful forces within Jack's circle.

First appears in chapter 6

Cody's wife and the mother of his children. She has lived through the strain caused by Cody's absences and his relationships outside their marriage.

First appears in chapter 7

A friend in Jack's San Francisco circle who joins the sociable round of drinking, talk, music, and travel surrounding the visits to Big Sur.

First appears in chapter 8

A poet and friend who is part of the group moving between San Francisco gatherings and Monsanto's coastal cabin.

First appears in chapter 12

A poet within Jack's Bay Area circle. He participates in the conversations and excursions that repeatedly interrupt Jack's intended retreat.

First appears in chapter 21

A woman connected to Cody who becomes close to Jack during his unsettled returns between San Francisco and Big Sur. She has a young son and hopes Jack will offer a stable future.

First appears in chapter 23

Billie's young son, brought into the adults' turbulent stay at the coastal cabin. His dependence makes Jack's promises to Billie carry consequences beyond their relationship.

First appears in chapter 27

An older friend whose poor health has placed him in a hospital. Jack's thoughts about him become entangled with a growing fear of illness, age, and death.