Topic > Ken Kesey - 538

Ken Kesey was an author, a revolutionary, a dreamer. A legend of the Pacific Northwest. His work and surreal philosophies became woven into the culture of the United States. His books place him as an author alongside Kerouac, Vonnegut and the other greats of their time. He guided a generation and his books accurately described a human struggle. Something that anyone can relate to. It changed people's minds and influenced society. Kesey was born September 17, 1935 in Colorado, but grew up in Springfield, Oregon. Ken grew up as a fighter. A tough guy. He eventually got a scholarship to the University of Oregon. He graduated in 1957 and went to Stanford for a writing program (Kesey, 2014). Kesey had found his passion. He later took part in the study of the US Army. He was on the effects of drugs and his work there helped inspire his first novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. In 1964 Ken Kesey organized a legendary group that involved people like Neal Cassady and Ken Babbs. They called themselves the Merry Pranksters. They were the leaders of their time. They began a journey through th...