High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! William Seward Burroughs II ( /ˈbʌroʊz/; also known by his pen name William Lee; February 5, 1914(1914-02-05) - August 2, 1997(1997-08-02)) was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th century." His influence is considered to have affected a range of popular culture as well as literature. Burroughs wrote 18 novels and novellas, six collections of short stories and four collections of essays. Five books have been published of his interviews and correspondences. He also collaborated on projects and recordings with numerous performers and musicians, and made many appearances in films.