Burrough's legend has been covered with too much gold paint.
Discussion
Yes — like many others. Truth is important—a cookie cutter devotion and/or perspective to larger than life personalities is not healthy.
I’ll make an honest confession: I’ve never read much of Burroughs— if any.
Joan’s life sounded so interesting— she was definitely more than a muse & did not deserve to be murdered.
I can say I have tried to read his stuff. A couple novels all the way through. Not sure I really got much from the text directly. I got more from his commentators and people inspired by him.
He is referenced a lot! Jack Spicer & Jack Gilbert are my favorite Beat related poets— although they aren’t necessarily classified as “Beats” — not Gilbert anyway who was from my hometown.