About
Charles Bukowski, born Heinrich Karl Bukowski in Germany, immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Los Angeles. He worked as a postal clerk and at various odd jobs before dedicating himself to writing. Known for his alter ego Henry Chinaski, he depicted the lives of outcasts with a raw and direct style. He published over 45 books, including novels and poetry collections. His work, associated with dirty realism, made him an iconic figure of American counterculture.
* 1920-08-16 — † 1994-03-09
Major works
- Post Office (1971)novel
- Factotum (1975)novel
- Women (1978)novel
- Ham on Rye (1982)novel
- Pulp (1994)novel
Key milestones
- 1924Settles permanently in Los Angeles with his family.
- 1970Quits his postal job thanks to a monthly stipend from publisher John Martin.
- 1994Dies of pneumonia in San Pedro, California.
Themes
AlcoholismMarginalityAlienating workLove relationshipsUrban life
Sources: deutsche-biographie.de · catdir.loc.gov
