Charles Bukowski, poet, novelist, short-story writer, journalist, and
cult figure of the dissident and rebellious was born in Germany in 1920
and died in the USA in 1994. During his life he was hailed as laureate
of American lowlife by Time magazine literary critic Adam Kirsch of
The New Yorker wrote: The secret of Bukowski's appeal...(is that) he
combines the confessional poet's promise of intimacy with the
largerthan-life aplomb of a pulp-fiction hero.
Bukowski was one of the most unconventional writers and cultural critics
of the 20th century. He lived an unorthodox, idiosyncratic life and
wrote in a style that was unique--one that is impossible to classify or
categorize. His work was at times cynical or humorous, but was always
brilliant and challenging. His life and work are distinguished not only
by a remarkable talent for words, but also by his rejection of the
dominant social and cultural values of American society. Bukowski began
writing at the age of forty and published forty-five books, six of them
novels. He is also considered one of the great literary voices of Los
Angeles.
In Bukowski For Beginners, playwright Carlos Polimeni evaluates the
life and literary achievements of the cult writer whose voice of
dissidence an discontent is still heard and appreciated by readers
worldwide.
