The Work of William Burroughs

There are some writers who escape easy classification because of their individual styles. William Burroughs is one of these writers, as his works are a convergence of many different genres and are unmistakable in their defined style. Although his first book, Junkie, was released in 1953, it was clear from this novel that Burroughs was decidedly influenced by the pulp fiction genre that was coming to a close. At the same time, there is an affinity for the classics in his style, a trait that most reviewers attach to his education at Harvard University. This education and his diverse experiences as a reporter for police stories were responsible for the unique style that emerged.

In many of the novels of William Burroughs, such as the seminal Naked Lunch, there are science fiction elements at work. In many cases, the science fiction side of his stories are not as a futuristic society, but rather place the events that occur in a current setting. As such, his work marks the natural progression of pulp fiction from the early magazines and cheaply produced novels into the literary world where these elements were more readily accepted. After a series of European travels, William Burroughs returned to the United States to find another influence waiting for him.

In the mid 1940s, Burroughs moved to New York City searching for work. It was there that he met Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and other writers that would make up the backbone of what would later be known as the Beat Generation. The Beat Generation became a further influence on the writing of William Burroughs, with the older man becoming a patron of the expanding young scene. In this manner, Burroughs helped to bridge the gap between science fiction and pulp fiction and the later literary movements.