The "New" Novel By Burroughs and Kerouac!

In August, 1944, Lucien Carr, a young Columbia University student, murdered David Kammerer, a older man who had been stalking him, due to circumstances still being debated. (Self-defense? Premeditated murder?) Somehow, as recounted here, Carr managed to involve both Jack Kerouac and William S. Burroughs in helping him try (unsuccessfully) to cover up the killing. (More details here .) (It should be noted that Carr was instrumental in introducing Kerouac, Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, the three principal figures of the "Beat Movement", to each other.)


(Burroughs and Kerouac.)

A year later, Burroughs & Kerouac, having (barely) escaped prison for their part in the killing, decided to collaborate on a mystery novel loosely based on the Carr-Kemmerer incident. For various reasons, the book was never published during the principals' lifetimes. Now however, as noted in this article, the novel, And The Hippos Were Broiled In Their Tanks will finally be published on November 1st. An excerpt of it can be read here . Should be interesting. -Ed

(And how did Burroughs & Kerouac come up with that bizarre title? Wikipedia explains all.)

William S. Burroughs Meets Joy Division

(Joy Division , with Ian Curtis , second from right . Click on the picture to learn more about the band.)

Writer Jon Savage has an interesting article on the literary influences of the late Ian Curtis (1956-1980), the creative force behind the legendary band Joy Division at the Guardian . Among Curtis' heroes (which included J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick ) was William S. Burroughs and the two actually got to meet. Very briefly.


(William S. Burroughs .)

The whole sad tale is recounted here . Curtis died in 1980 and his life was recently the focus of a very good film, Control , released last year, that may interest people. -Ed

Beats At Columbia University

Tomorrow (Friday, February 8), Columbia University will be holding a series of programs honoring it's "prodigal sons" (as their promotional copy says) Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Howl: A Celebration of Columbia 's Beats will run from 3:30 to 10:00 PM. Details & schedules can be accessed here , if anybody is interested. If I don't get lost on the subway (it's happened before), I'll be attending. (School of Visual Arts Professor Regina Weinreich, who spoke here last October on the work of William S. Burroughs, is one of the featured guests.) -Ed


(Left to right: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs, circa 1945, at Columbia U.)

Related link: Literary Kicks.

Beat Odds 'n' Ends

* The pulp magazines that were popular (and a popular influence on) Jack Kerouac & his fellow Beats get a historical review here.

* There's a new collection of old pulp stories & novels that's just come out: The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps , edited by Otto Penzler.

NPR has an online article about the book, which features works by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Carroll John Daly, Leslie Charteris & others. Recommended, but beware, there's a lot to read!



* There's also s site devoted to women who took part in the Beat Movement:
More Than Minor Characters.





* A previously published collection of interviews with William S. Burroughs & his artistic accomplice Brion Gysin has just been reprinted. And for those with further interest in Mr. Burroughs', um, unique way of looking at things, check this site out.



* Finally, here's my pick for the most insane pulp magazine character concept I've ever come across: The Spider! The stories I've read of this character are packed with so much action that the author must've been high on a bender or something! If you get a chance, just follow the links listed on the site I've linked to & read the plot descriptions. The titles of each installment practically give it away! Kerouac and/or Burroughs must've come across this series at one time! Who knows what must've gone through their minds reading this stuff!
Update: A major publisher has begun reprinting Spider novels! And a less major one has also jumped on the bandwagon!

-Ed