Cain's Book

[Duckfeet]

I know often junkies are readers. I stumbled on this book in Peru, in the eighties, in some english book store. I couldn't believe my find. first american copywright 1960, Grove Press. I got a Black Cat paperback version, 1961. It's a little like "Junkie" by Burroughs, autobiographical, not really going any place. But the writer, Alexander Trocchi, was better know in the UK, than here. (Nick actually knows more about the writer than I do.) I know Trocchi was kind of infamous for writing porn, hanging out with the other famous self destructive junkies, and basically a lowlife fucked up heroin addict who hustled and destroyed everything he knew or touched. My kind of guy.

But I love the book. Now, I don't know if a *non* heroin fiend would like it. I mean, the story is basically that of a junky who lays around on his barge in NYC, or is in town copping dope. But I liked it. Hard to find, but I believe they're back in print somewhere...

The movie "Young Adam" with the great young actor Ewan McGregor is based on another book by Trocchi. Plenty of lowlife shit, but not yet dope addled young man, generally just fucking around.

Anyway, if you are a reading type, and like Burroughs and Kerouac and Behan and Bukowski and *those* kinds of boys, then you'll like this book. It's actually where I got my butchered up avatar from...so don't even *think* about it!

[nick]

I know often junkies are readers. I stumbled on this book in Peru, in the eighties, in some english book store. I couldn't believe my find. first american copywright 1960, Grove Press. I got a Black Cat paperback version, 1961. It's a little like "Junkie" by Burroughs, autobiographical, not really going any place. But the writer, Alexander Trocchi, was better know in the UK, than here. (Nick actually knows more about the writer than I do.) I know Trocchi was kind of infamous for writing porn, hanging out with the other famous self destructive junkies, and basically a lowlife fucked up heroin addict who hustled and destroyed everything he knew or touched. My kind of guy.

But I love the book. Now, I don't know if a *non* heroin fiend would like it. I mean, the story is basically that of a junky who lays around on his barge in NYC, or is in town copping dope. But I liked it. Hard to find, but I believe they're back in print somewhere...

The movie "Young Adam" with the great young actor Ewan McGregor is based on another book by Trocchi. Plenty of lowlife shit, but not yet dope addled young man, generally just fucking around.

Anyway, if you are a reading type, and like Burroughs and Kerouac and Behan and Bukowski and *those* kinds of boys, then you'll like this book. It's actually where I got my butchered up avatar from...so don't even *think* about it!
Cain's book comes with Nick's seal of approval.Duckfeet,you may want to checkout Trocchi's "The blood countess".I fine gothic tale of Ersabet Batory and much 16th century Hungarian weirdness.

[Ragdoll]

I'll certainly check it out, Dee.

By the way, has anyone actually read the novel The Man With The Golden Arm?

[Papa Verine]

I know Trocchi was kind of infamous for writing porn, hanging out with the other famous self destructive junkies, and basically a lowlife fucked up heroin addict who hustled and destroyed everything he knew or touched. My kind of guy.

Ha! (I don't like "LOL") Thanks, it sounds like my kinda' book too.

[nick]

I've read the man with the golden arm.Nice book,but franky machine is a terrible name for a character.
P.S.Trocchi is a legend in the London dope scene still.