Burroughs is such a controversial figure that discussions of his work, even among devotees, are likely to involve some serious contention, not to say outright anger. His extensive description of drug use, his avowed homosexuality, his singular use of language, his departures from traditional form and structure, his apparent uneasiness with women characters, his interesting life, his connections to the Beat scene, his laconic style of public performance, and his recent counterculture popularity make him one of the most interesting artists of the twentieth century. The interconnections between his life and his work make it almost a necessity to consult one of the accounts of his life (Morgan; Miles; Tytell; Charters) before considering his work. It would be best to approach him in a spirit of toleration, although agreement is not the point since one of his purposes in writing is to create perceptive awareness.

1. What...