As Charles Bukowski would say, ‘If you are going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start.' A German-American born on 16, August 1920, Charles was a prolific poet, novelist, and short story writer.
He had a way with words. His writing was mostly influenced by the social, cultural, and economic structure of Los Angeles. He centered his work on the lives of poor Americans, alcohol, work, women, and writing itself.
A great supporter of small publications, Charles submitted a lot of his work to small literary magazines and presses from the 1940s to the 1990s. He wrote thousands of poems, hundreds of short stories, and six novels, amounting to more than 60 books in his career.
Charles wrote based on his experiences, emotions, and imagination. His way of writing was direct, with violent language and sexual imagery. While some critics found his tone offensive, others praised it, seeing it as satirical.
Some of his most famous works are Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame, Post Office, Women, and Ham on Rye. He wrote the screenplay for the film Barfly. There have also been films based on his work like Crazy Love, Tales of Ordinary Madness, and Factotum.
He didn't get as much attention in the USA from academic critics as he did in Europe, especially the UK, and in Germany, his birthplace. However, after he died in 1994, he became the subject of various critical articles and books on his life and works.
Here is a collection of quotes from Charles Bukowski that are not only enlightening but also inspiring. Read on.