Original: It is a largely autobiographical work that was based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across mid-century America . It is often considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation that was inspired by jazz , poetry , and drug experiences .
Simplified: Most of it is autobiographical and was written based on the spontaneous road trips of Kerouac and his friends across mid-century America and is often considered a defining work of the postwar Beat Generation .