Bukowski, << buh KOW skee, >> Charles (1920-1994), was an American poet, novelist, and short-story writer. He became known for his writings about gamblers, alcoholics, prostitutes, bums, and small-time gangsters. His adult life sometimes mirrored the misery reflected in his poetry and fiction.
During his lifetime, Bukowski was published by alternative newspapers, magazines, and small publishing companies. Although outside of the literary mainstream, he became a favorite among readers who admired his frank language, his exploration of violence and sexual images, and his portrait of modern society as morally corrupt.
Henry Charles Bukowski was born on Aug. 16, 1920, in Andernach, Germany, to an American father and a German mother. He came to the United States with his family when he was 2 years old. Bukowski lived much of his life in Los Angeles. He attended Los Angeles City College from 1939 to 1941. He then worked at a variety of odd jobs while writing short stories. His first stories were published in the mid-1940’s. From the mid-1940’s to the mid-1950’s, Bukowski traveled throughout the world, working at a number of low-paying jobs, including dishwasher, stock boy, and postal clerk.
Bukowski began writing poetry in 1955. More than 40 volumes of his poetry were published, beginning with Flower, Fist and Bestial Wail (1960?). His first collection of stories, Notes of a Dirty Old Man (1969), reflects the blend of realism and humor found in his short fiction. Bukowski also wrote seven novels, beginning with Post Office (1970). He wrote an autobiographical screenplay for the motion picture Barfly (1987) about a gifted writer who chooses to spend his time drinking alone in a saloon. The film inspired Bukowski’s novel Hollywood (1989).
Bukowski died on March 9, 1994. He left a large body of poetry and fiction at his death that has gradually been published. Three collections of his letters have been issued: Screams from the Balcony: Selected Letters 1960-1970 (1993), Living on Luck: Selected Letters 1960’s-1970’s (1995), and Reach for the Sun: Selected Letters 1978-1994 (1999).
