vii, 263 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : 25 cm

"William Seward Burroughs. Described by Norman Mailer as "the only living American novelist who may conceivably be possessed of genius," this unique underground visionary has lived up to these words. Burroughs's influence has exploded far beyond the ethereal borders of the literati into the realm of popular culture - he has influenced a remarkable spectrum of adventurous writers, artists, filmmakers and musicians. His celebrated bestseller, Naked Lunch, which sparked a precedent-setting obscenity trial, was hailed by Newsweek as "a masterpiece. A cry from hell, a brutal, terrifying, and savagely funny book that swings between uncontrolled hallucination and fierce, exact satire." And his life, perhaps even more than his work, is the stuff of legend: he became infamous for his open use of heroin, for the bizarre, accidental shooting of his wife and for the explicit sexual nature of his writing. As a result of this legend he has been celebrated by friends and benefactors such as Andy Warhol, Allen Ginsberg, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Lou Reed."--BOOK JACKET. "In this unconventional but riveting portrait, Barry Miles explores for the first time Burroughs's true cultural significance. He examines the life that led to the creation of masterpieces such as Junky, The Soft Machine and, of course, the monumental Naked Lunch. He also shows through incisive interpretations of the texts - plus invaluable insights into Burroughs's relationships with friends and fellow artists - how the life informs the work and how the work forms a continual whole that circles Greenwich Village, Paris, New Orleans, Mexico City and beyond. And, finally, how Burroughs has come to be a major influence in our culture today through the work of filmmakers Alex Cox and David Cronenberg, rock bands such as Steely Dan and Soft Machine and writers such as J.G. Ballard and William Gibson. For the Naked Lunch is far from over. . ."--Jacket

Includes bibliographical references (pages 255-256) and index

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