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The Autobiographical Fiction of Charles Bukowski Daniel Bigna A
Life on the Margins: The Autobiographical Fiction of Charles Bukowski Daniel Bigna A Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisors Susan Lever, Heather Neilson and Jeff Doyle for invaluable guidance and support, and Fiona, Simon and Jamie for infinite patience and encouragement. I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no material previously published or written by another person, nor material which to a substantial extent has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicity acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction. 1 Chapter One - Bukowski in Context. 24 Chapter Two – The Development of Bukowski’s Alternative Literary 48 Aesthetic in the novels Post Office , Factotum and Women. Chapter Three - Ham on Rye - The Troubled Birth of an Artist. 89 Chapter Four - Hot Water Music - The Grotesque and 108 the Artist Demystified. Chapter Five - Hollywood - A Non-Conformist in a Strange World. -
Bukowski and the American Dream
DEGREE IN ENGLISH STUDIES 4th YEAR - HERO OF THE INGLORIOUS KIND: BUKOWSKI AND THE AMERICAN DREAM - Student: Mikel López Prieto Tutor: David Río Raigadas 2019-2020 U. S. Literature Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Historical and Literary Framework 5 2.2. Charles Bukowski and the American Dream 7 2.3. Bukowski and Literary Protest in the 20th Century 8 3. Hero of the Inglorious Kind: Bukowski and the American Dream 9 3.1. Isolation 10 3.1.1. Rebellion 11 3.1.2. The Victimization of Henry Chinaski 15 3.1.3. The Victimization of the Working Class 17 3.2 Henry Chinaski's Embracement of Reality 20 3.2.1. Alcoholism 20 3.2.2. Suicidal Tendencies 22 4. Conclusion 24 Works Cited 26 2 Abstract Charles Bukowski is, perhaps, one of the most recognizable authors of the second half of the 20th century because of his direct, almost raw form of writing. Nevertheless, one of the major implications of this work has been neglected: his criticism of the philosophical and social construct of the American Dream, one of the first marks of identity of the United States of America, which is still present to this day. In this context, this essay is focused on the analysis of the Bukowskian depiction of the ideal in the novels Post Office (1971), and Factotum (1975) and on the autobiographical magnum opus of the author, Ham on Rye (1981). It is argued that the American Dream is portrayed as a source of alienation, victimization, and dehumanization of the character and the working class as a whole via the character of Henry Chinaski, Bukowski’s alter ego. -
Masaryk University the Portrayal of Women in Charles Bukowski's Work
Masaryk University Faculty of Education Department of the English Language and Literature The Portrayal of Women in Charles Bukowski's Work Bachelor thesis Brno 2019 Supervisor: Mgr. Barbora Kašpárková Author: Natálie Hlavatá I hereby declare that I worked on my bachelor thesis independently and that I used only the sources listed in the bibliography. I agree with keeping this work in the library of Masaryk University at the Faculty of Education for study purposes. …………………………………………………… Natálie Hlavatá Acknowledgements: I would like to express my very great appreciation to my supervisor Mgr. Barbora Kašpárková for her valuable advice, patience and understanding for my writing tempo. Additionally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their support and to Charles Bukowski for being authentic. Abstract: The main aim of the bachelor thesis is to provide an analysis of the portrayal of women in selected novels written by a controversial author Charles Bukowski. The analysis deals mainly with description, sexual objectification and position of female characters in novels Women (1978), Ham on Rye (1982), Hollywood (1989) with a special reference to possible differentiation in illustration of female characters considering the time gap in publishing the works and also author's personal life that is inherently connected to his writing and time period he lived in. Key words: Bukowski; Beat generation; women; sexual objectification; description of women; position of women Anotace: Hlavním cílem této bakalářské práce je poskytnutí analýzy vyobrazení žen ve vybraných dílech kontroverzního autora Charlese Bukovského. Analýza se zabývá především popisem, sexuální objektifikací a pozicí ženských postav v románech Ženy, Šunkový nářez a Hollywood, s ohledem na možnou odlišnost ve vyobrazení žen vzhledem k časovému odstupu ve vydání jednotlivých děl a také na autorův osobní život neodmyslitelně spjatý s jeho tvorbou a dobou ve které žil. -
SMALL PRESS LEGENDS: JOHN MARTIN LEGENDS: PRESS SMALL (Brown University,(Brown USA) Abel Debrittoabel Factotum , 70 ; May 2015,Pp
SMALL PRESS LEGENDS: JOHN MARTIN Abel Debritto (Brown University, USA) John Martin (1930), founder of Black Sparrow Press, was both publisher and editor for 36 years, retiring in 2002. He is most noted for helping to launch the literary career of Charles Bukowski and re-publishing the works of John Fante. He published over a dozen titles annually, with more than $1 million in sales, including works by Wyndham Lewis, Paul Bowles, Robert Duncan, Theodore Dreiser, Joyce Carol Oates, D.H. Lawrence, Diane Wakoski and many other influential writers. Martin sold Black Sparrow’s backlist to David R. Godine in 2002, and publication rights to Bukowski, Paul Bowles, and John Fante, were sold to Ecco Press, where they still appear, with the now-famous covers designed by his wife Barbara Martin. A.D.: Could you please elaborate on your background before you started Black Sparrow Press in 1966? J.M.: My father was killed in an automobile accident in 1939 when I was eight, and that eliminated financial security for our family. There was enough insurance for my mother to continue raising her three chil- dren. I couldn’t attend college, and had to go to work right out of high school. I enjoyed my own factotum, I had many crummy jobs, but I always did very well in them. I can remember two times when I was hired as extra labor, and ended up becoming the general manager. 171 In 1959, the year I got married, I landed a job with an office supply, print- ing, and furniture company. -
Charles Bukowski Papers 0155
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8n39s24m No online items Finding Aid of the Charles Bukowski papers 0155 Jacqueline Morin USC Libraries Special Collections 2014 Doheny Memorial Library 206 3550 Trousdale Parkway Los Angeles, California 90089-0189 [email protected] URL: http://libraries.usc.edu/locations/special-collections Finding Aid of the Charles 0155 1 Bukowski papers 0155 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections Title: Charles Bukowski papers source: Martin, John creator: Bukowski, Charles source: Black Sparrow Press creator: King, Linda Identifier/Call Number: 0155 Physical Description: 13.02 Linear Feet25 boxes Date (inclusive): 1957-1994 Abstract: The collection includes Charles Bukowski's (1920-1994) original poetry and short stories, along with drafts of Women, Factotum, Ham on Rye, Post Office, and Barfly; screenplays based on Bukowski's fiction; periodical appearances; tape recordings; and ephemera. Biographical note Charles Bukowski was born on August 16, 1920 in Andernach, Germany, the son of a US soldier and German woman. His family immigrated to the United States in 1922 and settled in Los Angeles, where Bukowski spent most of his life. His father was in and out of work during the Depression years and was a reputed tyrant, verbally and physically abusing his son throughout his childhood. It was perhaps to numb himself from his father's abuse that Bukowski began drinking at the age of 13, initiating his life-long affair with alcohol. After graduating from Los Angeles High School in 1939 Bukowski studied for a time at Los Angeles City College, taking courses in journalism and literature. -
JOHN MARTIN Abel Debritto
SMALL PRESS LEGENDS: JOHN MARTIN Abel Debritto (Brown University, USA) John Martin (1930), founder of Black Sparrow Press, was both publisher and editor for 36 years, retiring in 2002. He is most noted for helping to launch the literary career of Charles Bukowski and re-publishing the works of John Fante. He published over a dozen titles annually, with more than $1 million in sales, including works by Wyndham Lewis, Paul Bowles, Robert Duncan, Theodore Dreiser, Joyce Carol Oates, D.H. Lawrence, Diane Wakoski and many other influential writers. Martin sold Black Sparrow’s backlist to David R. Godine in 2002, and publication rights to Bukowski, Paul Bowles, and John Fante, were sold to Ecco Press, where they still appear, with the now-famous covers designed by his wife Barbara Martin. A.D.: Could you please elaborate on your background before you started Black Sparrow Press in 1966? J.M.: My father was killed in an automobile accident in 1939 when I was eight, and that eliminated financial security for our family. There was enough insurance for my mother to continue raising her three chil- dren. I couldn’t attend college, and had to go to work right out of high school. I enjoyed my own factotum, I had many crummy jobs, but I always did very well in them. I can remember two times when I was hired as extra labor, and ended up becoming the general manager. 171 In 1959, the year I got married, I landed a job with an office supply, print- ing, and furniture company. -
The United States Postal Service: an American History Tells the Story of an Ever-Changing and Improving Institution
At the beginning of our nation, and in the midst of the war for independence, there was a critical need to bind the people together through a reliable and secure system for the exchange of information and the delivery of correspondence. This led to the creation of America’s postal system in 1775, which preceded the birth of our country. The United States Postal Service has played a vital, sustaining, and unifying role in the life of the nation and in the lives of the American public ever since. The history of the Postal Service is a large story set on a broad canvas. It is intertwined with the history of America, and it provides a lens from which to observe the evolution of the United States. The postal system strengthened the foundations of our democracy by fostering the flow of ideas and access to America’s free press. It enabled the vast expansion of American industry and commerce, spanning and influencing the rise of the railroads in the 19th century, air travel in the 20th century, and the advanced digital technology of recent decades. As America’s economy and society have evolved, so too has the Postal Service progressed, both meeting and reflecting the nation’s changing needs. The United States Postal Service: An American History tells the story of an ever-changing and improving institution. It introduces us to the people and events that have shaped our story, and most importantly, how and why the Postal Service continues to play an indis- pensable role in every American community. -
Charles Bukowski Periodical Collection: Finding Aid
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8nk3gdk No online items Charles Bukowski Periodical Collection: Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by K. Peck. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Rare Books Department The Huntington Library 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org © 2013 The Huntington Library. All rights reserved. Charles Bukowski Periodical 602814 1 Collection: Finding Aid Overview of the Collection Title: Charles Bukowski Periodical Collection Dates (inclusive): 1941-2009 Bulk dates: 1972-1994 Collection Number: 602814 Creator: Bukowski, Charles Extent: 396 items in 29 boxes Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Rare Books Department 1151 Oxford Road San Marino, California 91108 Phone: (626) 405-2191 Email: [email protected] URL: http://www.huntington.org Abstract: This collection contains nearly 400 issues of 248 periodicals with content written by or about the poet, novelist, and short-story writer Charles Bukowski (1920-1994), who was known for his crude and evocative poetry and prose that often described the hard luck, boozing, and womanizing underbelly of life in Los Angeles, California, in the second half of the 20th century. The items date from 1941 to 2009 and consist of periodicals ranging from small literary journals to large weekly news magazines that contain poems, short stories, interviews, excerpts, and drawings by Bukowski, as well as photographs of him, and articles or interviews about him, or in which he is mentioned. Language: English. Note: Finding aid last updated on August 21, 2013. Access Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. -
Hollywood's Take on the Working-Class
FILM REVIEW REGIONAL LABOR REVIEW , Spring 2007 Hollywood’s Take on the Working-Class Writer: Filming Bukowski’s Factotum Directed by Bent Hamer; Produced by Bulbul Films; Runtime: 94 mins.; 2005. Reviewed by Russell Harrison In the most recent edition of the popular Penguin anthology, Contemporary American Poetry , two poems by Charles Bukowski, author of (among much else) the proletarian novel Factotum , are included. In the brief blurb introducing the author he is referred to by the editors as someone who has "spent much of his adult life as a drifter.” 1 This is odd, though not unexpected. Odd, because Bukowski traveled around the country for, at most, five of his 55 adult years. For roughly fifteen years he worked for the U.S. Post Office, hardly evidence of "drifting" and for another roughly quarter of a century after his retirement from the Postal Service, he was ensconced with house, wife cats and cars in suburban San Pedro as an increasingly successful writer able to live, and live increasingly well, off the income from his books, (in English and in translation into many foreign languages). Not unexpected, because what troubles the editors of this blurb, and other proponents of this view of Bukowski, are not the years of vagabondage (although this is a mostly inaccurate characterization since Bukowski was almost always working during his wanderings) but the many jobs and the types of jobs. They are boring, routine, low-paid, manual-labor jobs; this is not T.S. Eliot going to his bank job with a Latin Vergil in one jacket pocket and an Italian Dante in the other. -
Henry Chinaski, Zen Master: Factotum, the Holy Fool, and the Critique of Work
Henry Chinaski, Zen Master: Factotum, the Holy Fool, and the Critique of Work Andrew J. Madigan United Arab Emirates University, Al Alin Absh·act: Factotum ( 1975), by Charles Bukowski, exemplifies two importanT elements in the author '.~ work. One, Bukowski is profoundly critical of the Protestant work ethic, American market capitalism, and how these things affect the individual and society. 1\.vo, his.fictive alter-ego Henry Chinaski, who seems to be a lazy, vulgar buf foon, is actually a "holy fool." This essay examines both ofth ese issues and explores how, and why, they interrelate. Keywords: Charles Bukowski- Factotum- Work- I-Joly Fool Charles Bukowski has, more than any writer I can think of, been unevenly and inaccurately represented. Scholars and critics have focused on his vul gmity, hard-boiled language , minimal style, lowbrow voice, and presump ti ve misanthropy/ misogyny. They are especially preoccupied with the ex tent to which the author identifies, or is in fact consubstantial , with Henry Chinaski , his fictive doppelganger. As with Hemingway and Mailer, we cannot get an unobstructed view of his work because Bukowski 's image, and our own feelings about it, are blocking the way. As a result, a great deal of serious, useful scholarship has been neglected. One area that has been touched on- by Russell Harrison, for example, in Against the American Dream- is Bukowski's critique of work. One of the main themes, found thrnughout his poems, stories and novels, is that ev erything we work for is pointless, foolish and soul -destroying. We work to 76 American Studies in Scandinavia, 42:2, 2010 buy things that will not make us happy, and the work itself often makes us virulently unhappy, yet many of us seem unwilling or unable to escape from this absurd yet commonplace cycle. -
Charles Bukowski Papers 0155
http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt8n39s24m No online items Inventory of the Charles Bukowski papers 0155 USC Libraries Special Collections Doheny Memorial Library 206 3550 Trousdale Parkway Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189 213-740-5900 [email protected] 2010 Inventory of the Charles 0155 1 Bukowski papers 0155 Title: Charles Bukowski papers Collection number: 0155 Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections Language of Material: English Physical Description: 15.0 Linear feet15 boxes Date: 1957-1994, undated Abstract: Drafts of Women, Factotum, Ham on Rye, Post Office, and Barfly; screenplays based on Bukowski's (1920-1994) fiction; periodical appearances; tape recordings; ephemera. creator: Bukowski, Charles Biographical note Charles Bukowski was born on August 16, 1920 in Andernach, Germany, the son of a US soldier and German woman. His family immigrated to the United States in 1922 and settled in Los Angeles, where Bukowski spent most of his life. His father was in and out of work during the Depression years and was a reputed tyrant, verbally and physically abusing his son throughout his childhood. It was perhaps to numb himself from his father's abuse that Bukowski began drinking at the age of 13, initiating his life-long affair with alcohol. After graduating from Los Angeles High School in 1939 Bukowski studied for a time at Los Angeles City College, taking courses in journalism and literature. He left school and home in 1941 after his father, who had finally read some of Bukowski's stories, threw his son's possessions into the street. Bukowski continued to write stories and traveled across America, supporting himself with a string of odd jobs: gas station attendant, elevator operator, truck driver, and overseer in a dog biscuit factory, to name a few. -
By Roddy Doyle
BY RODDY DOYLE ‘This is presented as a work of fiction and dedicated to nobody.’ These are the first words I ever read by Charles Bukowski. I’d just picked up a second-hand copy of Post Office, his first novel. I’d never heard of the man, and the cover, a bad drawing of a postman, wasn’t promising. But the words on that empty dedication page had grabbed me. ‘Presented as a work of fiction’ suggested that there was more than story- telling going on inside, that there was real living behind the disclaimer, and ‘dedicated to nobody’ yelled anger, frankness, desolation and a sense of humour that was right down my alley. I forked out the 50p and started it on the bus home. ‘It began as a mistake.’ That was the first sentence, and paragraph. It was plain, yet intriguing, a good start to a crime novel perhaps, or a story of love gone wrong. I liked it, and read on. ‘It was Christmas season and I learned from the drunk up the hill, who did the trick every Christmas, that they would hire damned near anybody, and so I went and the next thing I knew I had this leather sack on my back and was hiking around at my leisure. What a job, I thought.’ What writing, I thought. It wasn’t just the words that made this a tough, real world. It was the awkwardness of the writing, its closeness to speech. ‘… and so I went and the next thing I knew I had this leather sack on my back.’ So you went where? And what happened then? And then? It was the absence of this information that appealed to me.