Kathy Acker

Kathy Acker, an American experimental novelist, playwright, poet, and essayist, was born in New York City in 1947 to a family of German-Jewish descent. Raised in a prosperous neighborhood, Acker's life took a dramatic turn when she left home at the age of eighteen to work in the sex industry. This experience became a significant aspect of her identity and contributed to her growing popularity in the New York art scene. Acker preferred to be known by her first husband's name, Robert, and continued to use it even after her second marriage to composer Peter Gordon ended.

Acker's writing is as unique and complex as her life. Her work is known for its experimental style, playful tone, and provocative themes, including childhood trauma, sexuality, and rebellion. She moved to London in the mid-eighties and spent five years there, further expanding her influence and impact on the literary world. Some of her most well-known works include "Blood and Guts in High School," "Portrait of an Eye," and "Pussy, King of the Pirates."

Despite Acker's untimely death in 1997, her legacy continues to live on. Chris Kraus's "After Kathy Acker" is the first biography about the writer, and Jason McBride's new biography was released in 2022. Additionally, McKenzie Wark's "Philosophy for Spiders: On the Low Theory of Kathy Acker" is forthcoming. "Kathy Acker: The Last Interview" is a valuable resource for those looking to learn more about the author's thoughts and perspectives on her own work, as it features a collection of interviews with Acker in her own words.