The novel follows Kerouac’s alter ego, Jack Duluoz, as he grapples with the aftermath of his success with On the Road (1957). Duluoz, overwhelmed by the expectations of his fans and the demands of his celebrity, finds himself torn between wild binges in San Francisco and solitary retreats to a cabin in Big Sur.

In Big Sur, Duluoz seeks to reconnect with nature and clear his mind of the chaos and madness that has consumed him. He spends his days wandering the coastline, writing, and engaging in menial tasks that become meditative exercises.