Neal Cassady: The Manic Muse

From Denver came Neal Cassady, a wild-eyed car thief and reform school graduate who would become the Beats' ultimate symbol of American freedom. Cassady's manic energy, sexual appetite, and stream-of-consciousness letters captivated both Kerouac and Ginsberg. His rambling, unpunctuated prose style directly influenced Kerouac's spontaneous prose technique. Cassady became the Dean Moriarty of 'On the Road,' the embodiment of the American spirit unbound by convention.

• Cassady's letters inspired Kerouac's prose style

• His wild energy became mythical among the Beats

• Served as model for Dean Moriarty character

• Represented authentic American frontier spirit