Penguin Modern Classics: Rub Out the Words

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William S. Burroughs was a groundbreaking literary figure whose works like "Junky" and "Naked Lunch" transformed American culture. In this anticipated collection, editor Bill Morgan presents over three hundred letters from the early sixties to the mid-seventies, showcasing Burroughs' evolution away from the Beat circle and into a new creative community that solidified his status as an influential cultural leader. Addressed to notable figures such as Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Jack Kerouac, Timothy Leary, and his son Billy, these letters illuminate Burroughs' controversial artistic process, literary experimentation, and complex personal life. They also include correspondence with new friends in North Africa and Europe, such as Paul Bowles, Ian Sommerville, Michael Portman, Alex Trocchi, and surrealist artist Brion Gysin, whose "cut-up method" significantly impacted Burroughs' writing. This collection offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a misunderstood artist, presenting an unforgettable portrait of one of the twentieth century's most uncompromising literary personalities.