Charles Bukowski

Biography: Charles Bukowski

 

                Charles Bukowski was a hard drinking writer from Los Angeles whose down to earth writings and gritty, unashamed content has brought about some insight into work, love, and naturally, alcohol. Bukowski was of German descent and was raised in a stern household. He grew up self-exiled from other kids at school which led to a largely isolated existence. His youth during the depression was rough and largely aimless but he was able to find some solace in booze, which his friend Baldy introduced to him after sneaking drinks as a kid. As an adult Bukowski had trouble landing a job that he gave a shit about and spent most of his days full of liquor. He eventually found work at the post office, first as a sub for mailmen, then working in the mailroom. This was one of the low-points of his life as the mundane job and overly bureaucratic administration was amputating his spirit slowly. Drinking, gambling at the race tracks, and shuffling through tedious work were a way of life until finally Charles put in his two weeks at the post office.

                After a month long bender partying with various characters, Charles sat down and wrote his first successful book, Post Office, which was a semi-autobiographical novel about his monotonous time at the job he so despised. He would later write two more semi-autobiographical novels, Ham on Rye about his youth and Women about his early days writing after the post office. While his novels were good, and brought insight into the mind of the lower class working man, he seemed more passionate about poetry and short stories. His poems and stories were crass to say the least, but they struck a chord with many fans. He would often do live readings of poetry to a crowd while downing bottle after bottle of wine.

                Tough as nails, he was able to drink like a fish and survive over 300 hangovers a year. He would often finish a bottle of liquor a night while writing, hammering out 10-30 pages of gradually more drunken insight. His rough lifestyle and often drunken presence lead to genius in the form of written word. Though he was one of the biggest literary drinkers, it wouldn’t be alcohol that took him down, but cancer after living over 70 years in this miserable world.

                Bukowski has a growing fan following today and his quotes about drinking are among the best ever written. He has had a couple movies based on his lifestyle, Factotum and Barfly, both of which give just a glimpse into the bar-lit lifestyle of the drunken poet. If you don’t have time to enjoy his books and poems, just search his name for quotes and you’ll see how insightful the man can be with a few swear words and a couple sentences

“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.”

Sources:

Bukowski, Charles. Women. New York: Ecco, 2002. Print.

Bukowski, Charles. Ham on Rye: A Novel. New York: Ecco, 2002. Print.

Bukowski, Charles. Post Office: A Novel. New York: Ecco, 2002. Print.