Charles Bukowski was a German-born American poet, novelist, and short story writer. He is known for his gritty and raw depictions of the working-class lifestyles of Americans in the mid-20th century.
Born on August 16, 1920, in Andernach, Germany.
Immigrated with his family to the United States at the age of three.
Worked a series of menial jobs throughout his life, including as a post office clerk, dishwasher, and gas station attendant.
Began publishing poetry and short stories in the 1940s, but achieved wider recognition in the 1960s and 70s with the publication of several novels, including Post Office and Factotum.
Died of leukemia on March 9, 1994, in San Pedro, California.
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A semi-autobiographical novel about Bukowski's experiences working at the post office. It was one of his first literary successes and helped to cement his reputation as a writer who was unafraid to depict the bleak realities of working-class life.
A novel about Bukowski's tumultuous relationships with various women. It is one of his most critically acclaimed works and has been praised for its honesty and lack of sentimentality.
A novel about Bukowski's experiences working a series of dead-end jobs. It is known for its sharp wit and dark humor, as well as its unflinching portrayal of poverty and desperation.
Bukowski's writing style is characterized by its rawness, vulgarity, and lack of sentimentality. He often uses everyday language and profanity to convey the experiences of working-class Americans, and his writing is known for being brutally honest and unflinching.
Bukowski's work often explores themes of poverty, sex, alcoholism, and the struggles of the working class. He is also known for his anti-establishment views and his criticisms of mainstream culture.
Yes, Bukowski was primarily known as a poet before he started publishing novels. He wrote thousands of poems over the course of his life, and many of his collections, such as Love is a Dog From Hell and The Last Night of the Earth Poems, are still widely read today.
Bukowski achieved a degree of cult fame during his lifetime, but he did not become a mainstream literary figure until the 1980s and 90s. His work was often dismissed by critics as vulgar and unimportant, but he attracted a dedicated following of readers who appreciated his honesty and authenticity.
Bukowski was influenced by a number of writers, including Ernest Hemingway, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and William Faulkner. He was also inspired by the works of the Beat writers, particularly Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg, and was associated with the Beat movement during the 1960s.