Burroughs at 100
William Burroughs was born 100 years ago this year and various books and articles have appeared to commemorate his life and work. The introduction to Junky by Will Self for the new Penguin Classics edition is an excellent, clear-eyed introduction to that great book and the complex and flawed man who wrote it. Self appears in this BBC Radio 4 documentary too, but where often he appears in programmes as a radical, shocking from the margins, here he represents the spoil-sport voice of conservatism, arguing, for instance, that idolism served to enable Burroughs the addict. He isn't given much of a platform however, the makers preferring a breathless ride through the life and legend of Burroughs the cultural icon, with Iggy Pop doing a fine and entertaining job as the driver. Not too deep but good fun.
Listen Here
William Burroughs was born 100 years ago this year and various books and articles have appeared to commemorate his life and work. The introduction to Junky by Will Self for the new Penguin Classics edition is an excellent, clear-eyed introduction to that great book and the complex and flawed man who wrote it. Self appears in this BBC Radio 4 documentary too, but where often he appears in programmes as a radical, shocking from the margins, here he represents the spoil-sport voice of conservatism, arguing, for instance, that idolism served to enable Burroughs the addict. He isn't given much of a platform however, the makers preferring a breathless ride through the life and legend of Burroughs the cultural icon, with Iggy Pop doing a fine and entertaining job as the driver. Not too deep but good fun.
Listen Here
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