William S. Burroughs at the Front: Critical Reception, 1959-1989

Rating:
Summary: Five Reasons Why This is a "Critical" Secondary Source
Review: 1) Authoritative: Both editors are renowned Burroughs scholars
2) Well-Represented: Most of the prominent Burroughs critics and scholars are represented (Alan Ansen, Ihab Hassan, Tony Tanner, Cary Nelson, Eric Mottram, Jennie Skerl, Robin Lydenberg, etc. Note: Due to chronology, Tim Murphy had yet to publish his dissertation on Burroughs)
3) Well-Organized: The text is organized by decades so one may gain an overview of Burroughs's reception throughout the past fifty years
4) Just: Both negative and positive criticism are included
5) Complete: The text begins with Burroughs's earliest works and finishes with his artwork