William S. Burroughs was one voice in a group of brilliant voices that made up the writers of the “Beat Generation”. Along with the likes of Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and Gregory Corso, Burroughs would revolutionize the written word and change the way a reader would, forever, interpret a sentence.
In, “Rub Out the Words”, Editor Bill Morgan has carefully chosen 300 out of nearly 1,000 letters written by Burroughs to his friends, family and colleagues in the second volume of “The Letters of William Burroughs”.
The letters span a particularly creative time in the author’s life, from the early 60’s thru the mid-70’s. When many had already set their minds on the type of man Burroughs was, these letters get to the truth. From his drug use to his constant moving to his, so-called “bohemian lifestyle”, his own words will dispel the myths that most readers associate with William S. Burroughs.
With his own correspondence, he will also shed some light on his legal problems after “Naked Lunch” is labeled obscene and his feelings about booksellers who would face huge fines and, perhaps, arrest for trying to sell what would become an iconic example of his work.
The letters also offer a glimpse into his private life as only his own words could clarify. Issues, such as, his relationship with his son, Billy Burroughs Jr., and his eventual drifting away from other “beat” writers like, Ginsberg, Corso and Kerouac as we witness his growing friendships with Paul Bowles, Ian Sommerville, Michael Portman, Alex Trocchi and surrealist artist, Brion Gysin, whose “cut-up method” would deeply influence Burroughs.
Unapologetically gay, during a time when it was still a crime to be a homosexual and a habitual drug user for most of his life, these letters will show that he never advocated their use. His belief was that the drug problem was not a political or legal issue, but rather, a medical one (a position, now agreed with, by many other people).
A large part of the reason that he lived, in some ways, the “expatriate” lifestyle was due to his constant drug use, which forced him to move often in an attempt to flee from prosecution. Or was it persecution?
Some people have trouble with William S. Burroughs and his body of work. They find his writing style confusing and hard to read. And, on both counts, they would be correct. However, there is much enjoyment in the breath of fresh air that blows from the open window, despite how difficult it was to get open.
Burroughs was that breath of fresh air and love him or hate him, he and his fellow writers of the “Beat Generation” created their own style of writing during a period of time that frowned on anything new or different.
And, for those who still find his work frustrating, I would definitely recommend “Rub Out the Words, The Letters of William S. Burroughs”. Who better to explain those words that the man who wrote them.
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I hope you enjoyed my review of "Rub Out the Words; The Letters of William S. Burroughs" by Bill Morgan. I absolutely recommend it to all my readers, but especially the ones who enjoy a difficult, but satisfying, read.
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Coming up, my review of "Unorthodox" by Deborah Feldman, followed by an in depth interview with the author. Then look for my review of "Wreck and Sinking of the Titanic" a reprint that was originally published 100 years ago, "Rolling Pennies in the Dark" by Douglas MacKinnon and, THIS JUST IN, my interview with Karen Gravano, star of VH-1's hit show, "Mob Wives" and author of "Mob Daughter".
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