December 04, 2004

The Illustrated Biography of William S. Burroughs Some say Bill Burroughs was the greatest writer that ever lived. I don't know if I believe that, but IMHO he certainly was one of them. He was also twisted in a delightful way, & loved cats. via Reality Carnival

Just ignore the fact he shot his wife in the head.

posted by Korzeniowski the Cat 20 years ago
  • I had a boyfriend (an exceptionally morose mofo, who a friend and I cruelly nicknamed 'Happy Feet') in the 80s, who knew Burroughs via RE/Search and Survival Research Laboratories. He reported that all Burroughs cared about were his cats and his guns. Am not going to ignore that he shot his wife in the head.
  • Dont you normally go to prison for like, a really long time if you shoot your wife in the head?
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Burroughs Third paragraph down.
  • How well do ye love me? Oh, I love ye very well, now let us play at William Tell He pulls out his pistol aims at her head, and down she falls with a hole in her head
  • Reading that was depressing. It really tries to make him a cartoon.
  • I love Burroughs, but I didn't really care for this. Too simplistic.
  • Better than Norman Mailer, who only stabbed his wife. Half-assed, I say.
  • all Burroughs cared about were his cats and his guns What else do you need?
  • R.I.P. Dr. Benway -- he was one sick fuck.
  • Of course, others say his writing is absolute nonsense me = others John Milius ("Apocalypse Now") is my favorite gun-nut writer. Phil Spector is my favorite woman-shooting artist in general.
  • ALLEGED woman-shooting artist
  • I'm not much on guns or shooting ladies, but I do like cats and opiates.
  • Burroughs' novels are definitely cool. But has anyone ever actually said he was "the greatest writer that ever lived"? Really?
  • Come on, did anyone besides Ginsberg ACTUALLY get through Naked Lunch?
  • Me. I've read it several times, it's one of my favorite books. But then I also count 'The Atrocity Exhibition' as one of my favorite books.
  • Read it back in the late 60s or early 70s. Also The Last Words of Dutch Schultz and Nova Express. Can't recall other titles off hand, but read five or six of his things -- was curious because of his association with Ginsberg.
  • I've read Naked Lunch a bunch of times as well.
  • Cities of the Red Night is great IMHO. I love Willy Lee, the damn murdering fascist alien buttfucking junky spy catlover.
  • Yes, well here is a link to Cities of the Red Night.