Junkie.

The adage 'write what you know' could have been created for Burroughs and his semi-autobiographical Junkie as he explored, through a loosely collected series of vignettes, heroin addicts and dealers in 1950s New York.

A shocking story of obsession - bound dos-a-dos with an equally obsessive tale seen from the other side of the junkie's syringe, Helbrant's long since forgotten Narcotic Agent - this counter culture classic started life a far cry away from the highly collectable literary classic it has now become.

Originally considered un-publishable, the book was started at the insistence of Burroughs' friend, editor and literary agent Allen Ginsberg. Burroughs was initially sceptical of becoming a writer, but on seeing the success of Jack Kerouac, he picked the pen up in earnest.

After many rejections from publishers, Ginsberg found Burroughs a willing publisher through Carl Solomon, the nephew of A. A. Wyn, who owned Ace Books, and the first edition published in 1953 under the pseudonym William Lee, the authors mothers maiden name.

Ace Books primarily catered to New York City subway riders, and competed in the same market as comic book, true crime, and detective fiction publishers. Ace published no hardcover books, only cheap paperbacks, which sold for very little (Burroughs earned less than a cent per book sold ).