Big Sur is the story of Jack Duluoz, a popular author who struggles with alcoholism and depression. The novel follows his trips to a friend's cabin called Big Sur, a place of tranquility where Jack tries to escape from the pressures of inhospitable suburban life. Jack philanders, drinks, embarrasses himself and his friends, and eventually suffers a total breakdown. The novel concludes with Jack's life in tatters after his failure to adjust to his own success.
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