[25.7.05][Andrew Stevens] TESCO'S JUNKY Eric Griffiths on William Burroughs as literary icon in the TLS: "A sad thing about writers who, like Burroughs, become legends in their own lifetime is that fewer read their books than idolize their lives - though 'legend' used to mean 'reading-matter'. Badges and T-shirts still perpetuate his sinister-prissy features because of his cult by association with Ginsberg and Kerouac, whom he resembles only in his weaknesses, and because the works and wrecks of later admirers such as Patti Smith, David Cronenberg and Will Self relay his allure. You can buy seventeen of his productions from Tesco's to only one of Samuel Beckett's, but Burroughs himself thought that 'one of the greatest compliments that I ever heard' was Beckett's reply when asked what he thought of Burroughs, 'Well, he's a writer' - a smaller claim to fame than 'junkie prophet' but likely to prove more lasting." [permalink]
|
[0 comments]
