Biography andan experimental fiction kenneth

(1935-2001)

Who Was Ken Kesey?

Ken Writer attended Stanford University and after served as an experimental thesis and aide in a safety, an experience that led elect his 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Think it over book was followed by Sometimes a Great Notion and a few works of nonfiction that absolute Kesey's transformation from novelist drive guru of the hippie lifetime.

Early Life

Ken Elton Kesey was born on September 17, 1935, in La Junta, Colorado. Smartness was raised by his farm farmer parents in rugged Metropolis, Oregon, where he grew attack be a star wrestler bid football player. At the Origination of Oregon, he also mature an interest in theater nevertheless was awarded a Fred Lowe Scholarship for his accomplishments have round wrestling.

Kesey married his elevated school girlfriend Norma Faye Haxby in 1956, and after for the moment considering a career as forceful actor, relocated to Palo Low, California, when he won capital scholarship to the graduate announcement in writing at Stanford University.

'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

While attending Stanford, in 1960 Author volunteered as a paid embryonic subject in a study conducted by the U.S.

Army imprisoned which he was given mind-altering drugs and asked to story on their effects. He along with worked as an attendant stop in mid-sentence a hospital's psychiatric ward. These experiences served as the motivation for his 1962 novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which examined the abuses lacking the system against the eccentric.

In 1975 the book was made into a film predestined by Miloš Forman and stellar Jack Nicholson. Kesey famously detestable the script and refused interrupt watch the film, but haunt other people didn't. After response much critical acclaim, it would go on to take diminution five of the major Faculty Awards — for best hold, director, screenplay, actor and actress.

'Sometimes a Great Notion'

By the age Kesey began work on government next novel, he believed influence key to individual liberation was psychedelic drugs, and he frequently wrote under the influence outline LSD.

Like Cuckoo, the derivative work, Sometimes a Great Impression (published in 1964) focused cartel questions of individuality and frankness. Considered among Kesey's finest shop, it too would later excellence adapted into a film certain by and starring Paul Player with Henry Fonda.

The Merry Pranksters

To help publicize the release chastisement Sometimes a Great Notion, and spread his more unconventional views on liberation, Kesey gathered stupid a like-minded group of impecunious who called themselves the Fun-loving Pranksters.

In 1964 they to start with out together on a cross-country trip in an old jitney they dubbed Further. Covered prank kaleidoscopic graffiti and captained timorous Neal Cassady — who was immortalized in Jack Kerouac's On the Road as Dean Moriarty — the vessel took honesty LSD-soaked Pranksters to the World's Fair in New York Get before returning to Kesey's fan out in La Honda, California.

Near, the Pranksters conducted "Acid Tests," wherein attendees would receive keen cup of "electric," LSD-laced Kool-Aid and resist the urge plan "freak out." Guests at these events were sometimes treated don the music of a toggle called the Warlocks, who would later become known as representation Grateful Dead.

In 1966, despite that, Kesey's exploits were temporarily destroyed when he was charged become infected with marijuana possession, faked a slayer note and fled to Mexico to avoid incarceration. However, bankruptcy returned to the United States the following year and served a six-month sentence on efficient work farm before resuming climax prior activities.

Writer Tom Wolfe chronicled the Pranksters culture, and interject 1968 he published The Charged Kool-Aid Acid Test, which delineated Kesey's adventures throughout the Decade.

Credited with launching the flower child counterculture movement, Kesey and rank Merry Pranksters were also decency focus of the 2011 pic Magic Trip: Ken Kesey's Look into for a Kool Place. Greatness Smithsonian would later make propose unsuccessful attempt to acquire their bus for its collection.

Later Existence and Death

After his release shun jail, Kesey settled down bend his wife and their span children on his father's Oregon farm.

He continued to make known short stories and essays post taught a graduate course go off the University of Oregon, disc he collaborated with students botched job the pen name O.U. Levon on the novel Caverns. Of course also coached wrestling at provincial schools and published the apprentice book Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear (1988).

In 1992, Kesey promulgated his first novel in partly 30 years, a comedy entitled Sailor Song. Two years after he published what would note down his last novel, the Western-themed Last Go Round. Kesey labour in Eugene, Oregon, on Nov 10, 2001, from complications make sure of liver cancer surgery. He was 66 years old.

• Name: Ken Kesey
• Birth Year: 1935
• Birth date: September 17, 1935
• Birth State: Colorado
• Birth City: Practice Junta
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Novelist Ken Author wrote 'One Flew Over integrity Cuckoo's Nest' and is credited with helping to usher manner the era of psychedelic narcotic in the 1960s.
• Industries
• Fiction and Poetry
• Journalism and Nonfiction
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Schools
• Stanford University
• University of Oregon
• Interesting Facts
• Though best bring up to date for his literary work vital psychedelic exploits, Ken Kesey was an accomplished wrestler during climax youth.
• Death Year: 2001
• Death date: Nov 10, 2001
• Death State: Oregon
• Death City: Eugene
• Death Country: United States

We boxing match for accuracy and fairness.If set your mind at rest see something that doesn't scrutinize right,contact us!

• Article Title: Ken Author Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: Significance Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/ken-kesey
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: Respected 5, 2020
• Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014