William S. Burroughs: The naked lunch. (1959, Olympia Press)
225 pages
English language
Published Dec. 14, 1959 by Olympia Press.
Controversial and bizarre cult novel based on the author’s own experiences as a drug addict, first published in 1959. Formed as a series of inter-connected adventures set in locations as diverse as the U.S. Mexico and Morocco sees the protagonist, Burroughs’ alter-ego William Lee on the run from the police and always searching for his next fix. Burroughs once stated that the chapters can be read in any order.
I can understand how many hate this novel, a series of episodic experiences of a junky out in the world, who navigates the underbelly of the world. It is extremely obscene with especially horrific racist and homophobic language, but the evil diction is fuel. It's a heavy read but man... much of it is unforgettable.
