Treacherous Desire in William S. Burroughs’s Queer
Treacherous Desire in William S. Burroughs’s Queer

Summary/Abstract: The prolific 83-year life of this American guru in literature and not only, cast an immense influence on his generation. William Seward Burroughs’s life is in itself subject for a novel. He was born in a well-to-do family (his grandfather invented the adding machine) who offered him an exquisite education. Burroughs graduated from Harvard in 1936, then did graduate work in anthropology and medicine. Despite his brilliant background, this rebel character preferred to toss it all aside and moved to New York where he involved himself with the criminal petty underworld – apparently just for the kicks. His circle of friends included homosexuals, young intellectuals and junkies who made Bill’s acquaintance with benzedrine, morphine and heroin. Later, Burroughs became addicted to hallucinogenic drugs, and he is the first writer in American literature to present drug dependence non-judgmentally as an individual choice.

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