William S. Burroughs

William Seward Burroughs (February 5, 1914 – August 2, 1997) was an American writer. He was a contemporary and friend of writers Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.

Burroughs was a member of the family who owned the Burroughs Cash Register Company. A family trust paid him an income, so he did not have to work a regular job. Sometimes he lived in Mexico and other countries, because he could live there in more luxury than in the United States. One favorite apartment he had in New York City was a windowless basement, nicknamed "Bill's Bunker" by his friends. Many of them were emerging writers and artists.

Burroughs told interesting, colorful stories, but did not think he could be a writer. This changed as he came to terms with tragedy; he had killed his common law wife Joan, in an accident when they were both drunk. Burroughs began to write to work through his grief and feelings of guilt. He also abused drugs, including heroin, and it affected his writing. His first novel, Naked Lunch, was a surreal work.

Besides writing, Burroughs also recorded spoken word and musical works. One of his works paired him with musician Kurt Cobain.Metzger, R., "When Kurt Cobain Met William Burroughs" , Dangerous Minds, October 26, 2012.

Burroughs died of a heart attack.Schjeldahl, P., "The Outlaw—The extraordinary life of William S. Burroughs", The New Yorker, January 26, 2014.

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Category:1914 births
Category:1997 deaths
Category:Beat Generation
Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction
Category:Writers from St. Louis, Missouri
Category:People from Lawrence, Kansas
Category:Disease-related deaths in Kansas