Naked Lunch
1959 novel by William S. Burroughs / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the book. For the film, see Naked Lunch (film). For other uses, see Naked Lunch (disambiguation).
Naked Lunch (sometimes The Naked Lunch) is a 1959 novel by American writer William S. Burroughs. The book is structured as a series of loosely connected vignettes, intended by Burroughs to be read in any order. The novel follows the junkie William Lee, who takes on various aliases, from the U.S. to Mexico, eventually to Tangier and the dreamlike Interzone.
Quick Facts Author, Language ...
![]() Cover of the 1959 Olympia first edition, with misprinted title | |
Author | William S. Burroughs |
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Language | English |
Genre | |
Publisher | Olympia Press (Europe) Grove Press (US) |
Publication date | 1959 |
Publication place | France |
Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
ISBN | 978-3-548-02843-9 (reprint) |
OCLC | 69257438 |
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The novel was highly controversial, and its supposed obscenity led to a series of high-profile legal challenges. The novel remains divisive, but both admirers and critics recognize it as one of the defining works of the Beat generation.