Speed (novel) explained

Speed
Author:William S. Burroughs Jr.
Cover Artist:Ira Cohen (photo)
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Autobiographical novel
Publisher:Olympia Press
Release Date:1970
Media Type:Print (Paperback & Hardback)
Pages:160
Isbn:0-7004-0050-8
Isbn Note:(first edition, paperback)
Dewey:813/.5/4
Congress:PZ4.B9719 Sp3 PS3552.U749
Oclc:240291
Followed By:Kentucky Ham

Speed, first published in 1970, was the first of three published works by William S. Burroughs Jr., the son of the Beat Generation author William S. Burroughs.

Summary

Speed is an autobiographical novel about the ins and outs of the life of a methamphetamine addict.[1] It starts out with Burroughs in his grandmother's house in Florida and moves to the streets of New York. It is written in the straight narrative style. Throughout the book the life of the speed addict is explored and the stories of how Burroughs got from being a teenage speed-freak to getting arrested and tried for forging a prescription is touched upon. Speed was almost rejected by its publisher due to its crude themes, such as the in-depth sex scene between Burroughs and his child love, Maria.

Impact

Burroughs' second work, Kentucky Ham, is similar in some aspects to Speed and elucidates the other adventures had by him after Speed was written. His third work, Cursed From Birth, was compiled by David Ohle and published posthumously.

Due to the author's having an almost identical name to his more famous father, and because the book deals with themes often featured in his father's writings, Speed is often erroneously credited to the elder Burroughs.

Notes and References

  1. News: Schjedahl. Peter. The Outlaw The extraordinary life of William S. Burroughs.. 14 January 2016. Condé Nast. February 4, 2014.