Born in New York City, and tutored at a private girls' high school, Kathy Acker (April 18, 1947-November 30, 1997) was disowned by her parents while still a teen, educated on the streets and then later at Brandeis University and the University of California at San Diego, the City College of New York, and New York University.
Considered to be one of the most influential writers of her generation, her numerous publications include "Pussy, King of the Pirates" (1997), "Empire of the Senseless" (1988), and "Great Expectations" (1989).
Acker was also an opera librettist, a playwright, a performer, a journalist, and a screenwriter working with such talents as playwright and director Richard Foreman. During the last year of her life she wrote "The Gift of Disease," an article chronicling her experience with breast cancer for the London Guardian (Jan 1997).
Listen now to this recording of Acker performing "President Bush" from the CD "Redoing Childhood," courtesy of Kill Rock Stars.
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