"The Burroughs File" (1984)

San Francisco, California, US: City Lights Books (book, primary, compilation), 1984.
8.25" x 5.875" x 0.875", 227 pages, hardcover with dust jacket, ISBN 0-87286-158-9.

William S. Burroughs' The Burroughs File, a compilation of short written works and scrapbook reproductions. This was published in both a hardcover and softcover edition by City Lights Books (San Francisco, California, US) in 1984. Pictured is the hardcover edition, of which only 300 copies were released. Introductory notes are by James Grauerholz. Designed by Nancy J. Peters and Kim McColoud. Editing and Typography by V. Vale. The cover photograph of Burroughs in Macao, Columbia, in 1953 is by an unidentified photographer.

This brings together writings from White Subway, The Old Movies [published only in German as Die Alten Filme], The Retreat Diaries, Cobble Stone Gardens, and a selection of Burroughs' scrapbook pages.  Many are presented in the typography and layout as they were initially published.

There are additionally essays on Burroughs by Paul Bowles and Alan Ansen in this volume.

Shoaf I.61.
Schottlaender v4.A54.

Contents:

• Introductory Notes by James Grauerholz
• The Burroughs File Publishing History
• "The Burroughs File":
• "Burroughs in Tangier" by Paul Bowles
• "Whoever Can Pick up a Frying Pan Owns Death" by Alan Ansen
• The White Subway:
• "Unfinished Cigarette"
• "Distant Hand Lifted"
• "The Conspiracy"
• "Ancient Face Gone Out"
• "Who Is the Third That Walks Beside You?"
• "The Last Post Danger Ahead"
• "Palm Sunday Tape"
• "The Beginning Is Also the End"
• "The Coldspring News"
• "Who Is the Walks Beside You Written 3rd?"
• "St. Louis Return"
• "Composite Text"
• The Old Movies:
• "Word Authority More Habit Forming than Heroin"
• "So Who Owns Death TV"
• "Abstract"
• "Fear and the Monkey"
• "Distant Heels"
• "Pages from Chaos"
• "23 Skiddoo"
• "Old Photographer"
• "The Inferential Kid"
• "Last Awning Flaps on the Pier"
• "The Bay of Pigs"
• "File Ticker Tape"
• "The Moving Times"
• Pages from Scrapbooks:
• "Publisher's Note"
• "The Old Farmer's Almanac"
• "Book of Hours"
• "John Brady's Book"
• The Retreat Diaries
• Cobble Stone Gardens