Speed and Kentucky Ham
By William S. BurroughsPublisher Description
A pair of autobiographical novels with “a compelling narrative that balances the methedrine horrors with the outcast’s romantic search for identity" (Rolling Stone).
William S. Burroughs, Jr.—son of the legendary outlaw author of Naked Lunch—often felt he was “cursed from birth.” Following in his father’s footstep in tragically uncanny ways, Burroughs chronicled his own experiences in the novels Speed and Kentucky Ham. Each presents a methedrine-inspired odyssey, and a vision of alienated youth at its most raw and uncensored.
Speed follows Billy as he hustles for dope and money, crashing in garbage-strewn apartments and guiding a paranoid friend through the perilous city streets. With tough, gritty detachment, he describes the stages of his own drug addiction and physical and emotional deterioration.
Kentucky Ham takes him from the squalor of the East Village crash pads to his father's literary hideaway in Tangier, and finally to incarceration at the Federal Narcotics Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Through both these autobiographical novels, William S. Burroughs, Jr., tells a story of generational isolation that is as relevant today as when it was first written.
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities4 Reviews
Kalifornia Waiting
Created over 2 years agoTara Fambrough
Created about 5 years agoJoshua Kohel
Created almost 11 years agoScott Crammer
Created over 12 years agoAbout William S. Burroughs
Other books by William S. Burroughs
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?