This is a celebration of the life of neal cassady, the author's friend and inspiration. The son of a denver drop-out, brought up homeless and motherless during the depression, cassady - novelized as cody - lived his life...This is a celebration of the life of neal cassady, the author's friend and inspiration. The son of a denver drop-out, brought up homeless and motherless during the depression, cassady - novelized as cody - lived his life raw, hustling in pool halls, stealing cars and living wild.