Apollo 14/Mary Celeste [J:528]: Autobiographical Essays, 1969-1972

This folder contains numerous short pieces, virtually all of which are autobiographical in nature and which constitute small essays about writing and becoming a writer. All these pieces where written in 1969-1972 in London. The file may be broken down into the following individual essays:

Une Poeme Moderne. Singled page, typed, signed by Burroughs. About 200 words, single-spaced. Essentially a cut up routine in which Burroughs himself figures as a character, Le Grand un Homme de Lettres.

Look Around Audrey. 2pp. typed, signed, with corrections. About 1000 words. Unpublished, but possibly incorporated in the Carsons Family MS.

Techniques for Preconditions the Public to Read it. 3pp. typed, signed twice, with corrections throughout. 1500 words. Unpublished.

In Any Game on of the Players Must Lose. 6pp. typed, signed. One of Burroughs' most humorous and brilliant short pieces, about books, being a writer, games and gambling, and money. Should be published.

The Name is Bill Burroughs. I am a Writer. 2pp. typed MS, signed. Humorous autobiographical essay about being a writer. First leaf is signed twice by Burroughs. About 1000 words. Unpublished.

Writers. Single page, typed, signed. Poem, humorously discussing Hemingway and Fitzgerald, and being an author. Unpublished.

I Was Born February 5, 1914. 4pp. legal size, typed, signed, single-spaced, nearly 4000 words. A straight autobiographical essay, in which Burroughs outlines his childhood experiences and earliest memories. A brilliant, unpublished manuscript.

Miscellaneous. 21pp. of miscellaneous pieces, seven of which are signed by the author. Altogether about 6500 words. Various contents, including several autobiographical pieces, and a few pages which appear to be part of the Carsons Family MS, but which we retain in this file, since that is the way the author arranged the files. Includes carbons of some of the above pages.

Altogether a highly informative file, containing many unpublished autobiographical essays and fragments. Preserved in the original red folder with a decorative illustration of the Apollo 14 moon landing pasted (by Burroughs) onto the front cover.