Synopsis
“In this book I have written what I know about junk and the people who use it. The narrative is fiction, but it is based on facts of my experience.” —William S. Burroughs
History
First publication: Ace Double #D-15, 1953
Review
This is considered a modern classic. It is a straightforward novel. Fictionalized, but based on Burroughs’ own experiences, so it reads like an autobiography or maybe a journal. Burroughs does not make a statement about what he went through. Instead it’s just the facts, plain and fairly unemotional. There is no real conclusion to the book, just a close to that period of life. What it gives you is an insight into what it’s like to be a heroin/morphine addict. After initially being introduced to the drugs, the character goes through constant cycles of doing the drugs, looking for dealers, avoiding the police, trying to quit, then start over again. His whole life is all about getting and taking drugs. That makes it sound tedious, but it is an interesting story that keeps moving forward and keeps you reading. It isn’t all that difficult to read. There are some things that might disturb some readers, but mostly not. Recommended.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
Junky, trade paperback, Grove Press, 2003-00-00
