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Selected Letters: 1958-1965
The 1960's saw Charles Bukowski struggle for recognition and slowly emerge as a unique, talented and prolific poet and writer, whilst holding down a day job at the Post Office. These letters to various friends, lovers and literary contacts provide an intimate and fascinating look at Bukowski's mind, his emotions, his attitude towards his own creativity and the comings and goings of his daily life.
- GenresNonfiction
234 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Charles Bukowski
854 books29.9k followersHenry Charles Bukowski (born as Heinrich Karl Bukowski) was a German-born American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles.It is marked by an emphasis on the ordinary lives of poor Americans, the act of writing, alcohol, relationships with women and the drudgery of work. Bukowski wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories and six novels, eventually publishing over sixty books
Charles Bukowski was the only child of an American soldier and a German mother. At the age of three, he came with his family to the United States and grew up in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941, then left school and moved to New York City to become a writer. His lack of publishing success at this time caused him to give up writing in 1946 and spurred a ten-year stint of heavy drinking. After he developed a bleeding ulcer, he decided to take up writing again. He worked a wide range of jobs to support his writing, including dishwasher, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, gas station attendant, stock boy, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk, parking lot attendant, Red Cross orderly, and elevator operator. He also worked in a dog biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, a cake and cookie factory, and he hung posters in New York City subways.
Bukowski published his first story when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. His first book of poetry was published in 1959; he went on to publish more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including Pulp (1994), Screams from the Balcony (1993), and The Last Night of the Earth Poems (1992).
He died of leukemia in San Pedro on March 9, 1994.
Charles Bukowski was the only child of an American soldier and a German mother. At the age of three, he came with his family to the United States and grew up in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941, then left school and moved to New York City to become a writer. His lack of publishing success at this time caused him to give up writing in 1946 and spurred a ten-year stint of heavy drinking. After he developed a bleeding ulcer, he decided to take up writing again. He worked a wide range of jobs to support his writing, including dishwasher, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, gas station attendant, stock boy, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk, parking lot attendant, Red Cross orderly, and elevator operator. He also worked in a dog biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, a cake and cookie factory, and he hung posters in New York City subways.
Bukowski published his first story when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. His first book of poetry was published in 1959; he went on to publish more than forty-five books of poetry and prose, including Pulp (1994), Screams from the Balcony (1993), and The Last Night of the Earth Poems (1992).
He died of leukemia in San Pedro on March 9, 1994.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 14, 2017
Reading Bukowski’s letters are probably as essential as his poetry and prose in order to understand the man, what created the creator. Never one to speak in clichés, the letters – mainly to fellow writers, poets and publishers – give one the chance to spend time in his head.
Admittedly, this isn’t a pretty place to be, at the same time it’s a privilege to see the world from his stance; free of pretension, and calling out humanity for what it was. His misanthropy may seem excessive at times, but to most of us there’s a sting of recognition to what he says. Moreover, he said it with such guts and raw lyricism.
Some of the highlights here are his burst out into poetry when writing to his confidant, his grateful tributes to the publishers who took on his first poetry collection, and recollections of his daughter, one of the few chinks of light in the darkness.
His journey was a sordid one, but the outcome was inspiring. His madness stalked him everywhere, revere.
‘I am for the small man who has not forgotten, for the man who loves his beer and his women and his sunlight but who is not quite wise enough (ever) to know where next month’s rent is coming from’.
Admittedly, this isn’t a pretty place to be, at the same time it’s a privilege to see the world from his stance; free of pretension, and calling out humanity for what it was. His misanthropy may seem excessive at times, but to most of us there’s a sting of recognition to what he says. Moreover, he said it with such guts and raw lyricism.
Some of the highlights here are his burst out into poetry when writing to his confidant, his grateful tributes to the publishers who took on his first poetry collection, and recollections of his daughter, one of the few chinks of light in the darkness.
His journey was a sordid one, but the outcome was inspiring. His madness stalked him everywhere, revere.
‘I am for the small man who has not forgotten, for the man who loves his beer and his women and his sunlight but who is not quite wise enough (ever) to know where next month’s rent is coming from’.
July 16, 2009
"The only cures I have for the ills of lilfe are to move constantly north and to sleep. But you run out of north and you wake up. No cure. Just wait for the garbage man." The man makes me just as mad as he surprises me.
October 4, 2011
Bukowski's letters contain more poetry than some of his actual poems - his letter writing style does not differ greatly from his fiction, which makes this collection very enjoyable, and fascinating reading into the workings of the man himself...
December 10, 2008
Bukowski is absolutely genius. This book is a compilation of his personal letters. Makes me even more of a fan.
November 11, 2013
I will read this over and over again until I die and then I will read it again. I have a thing for epistolary histories.
July 17, 2019
Comparatively better than the later letters of bukowski. i.e after quiting his job his letters lost some of the juice it had when he was working in the post office. Apparently pain helps?
April 26, 2015
His letters, like his poetry and prose, show off his true genius.
May 5, 2018
I know, I know. Shouldn't I be through this phase already?!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews