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Charles Bukowski
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On Writing Paperback – July 26, 2016

by Charles Bukowski (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 318 ratings
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Sharp and moving reflections and ruminations on the artistry and craft of writing from one of our most iconoclastic, riveting, and celebrated masters.

Charles Bukowski’s stories, poems, and novels have left an enduring mark on our culture. In this collection of correspondence—letters to publishers, editors, friends, and fellow writers—the writer shares his insights on the art of creation.

On Writing reveals an artist brutally frank about the drudgery of work and canny and uncompromising about the absurdities of life—and of art. It illuminates the hard-edged, complex humanity of a true American legend and counterculture icon—the “laureate of American lowlife” (Time)—who stoically recorded society’s downtrodden and depraved. It exposes an artist grounded in the visceral, whose work reverberates with his central ideal: “Don't try.”

Piercing, poignant, and often hilarious, On Writing is filled not only with memorable lines but also with Bukowski’s trademark toughness, leavened with moments of grace, pathos, and intimacy.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Ecco
  4. Publication date
    July 26, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0062417401
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0062417404
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

BUKOWSKI BACKLIST BANNER

Editorial Reviews

Review

Always passionate, frequently funny, occasionally incoherent excerpts from a significant 20th-century American writer. — Kirkus Reviews

“The letters are a wild ride informed in equal parts by ego, alcoholism, misanthropy, erudition, and the genius, as Bukowski puts it, of one ‘touched by the grace of the word.” — Publishers Weekly

“By turns, the poet’s letters are humorous, boastful, self-deprecating, and angry at the world, but they are always entertaining. VERDICT: Bukowski fans will welcome this new collection tied to the celebration of what would have been his 95th birthday.” — Library Journal

From the Back Cover

Charles Bukowki’s stories, poems, and novels have left an enduring mark on our culture. In this collection of previously unpublished material—letters to publishers, editors, friends, and fellow writers—Bukowski shares his insights on the art of creation.

On Writing reveals an artist brutally frank about the drudgery of work, and canny and uncompromising about the absurdities of life—and of art. It illuminates the hard-edged, complex humanity of a true American legend and countercultural icon—the “laureate of American lowlife” (Time)—who stoically recorded society’s downtrodden and depraved. It exposes an artist grounded in the visceral, whose work reverberates with his central ideal: “Don’t try.”

Piercing, poignant, and often hilarious, On Writing is filled not only with memorable lines but also with Bukowski’s trademark toughness, levened with moments of grace, pathos, and intimacy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ecco; Reprint edition (July 26, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062417401
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062417404
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 318 ratings

About the author

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Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

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Charles Bukowski is one of America's best-known contemporary writers of poetry and prose, and, many would claim, its most influential and imitated poet. He was born in Andernach, Germany, and raised in Los Angeles, where he lived for fifty years. He published his first story in 1944, when he was twenty-four, and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, at the age of seventy-three, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp (1994).

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Top reviews from the United States

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E. Reyes
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read into Bukowski's Perseverance
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2021
Verified Purchase
"A writer is not a writer because he has written some books. A writer is not a writer because he teaches literature. A writer is only a writer if he can write now, tonight, this minute."

What I noticed the most, especially from the first batch of Bukowski's letters, is that he never gave up. He never gave up writing, he never gave up sending his poems or novels to publishing houses, and he never doubted himself. He wrote and wrote and submitted and submitted and never once quit or gave up because he didn't get accepted. And that right there is the key to doing what you want for the rest of your life.

These personal letters were more like poems and prose that was meant to be seen. Even the man's letters to friends, fellow writers, agents, and publishers are entertaining. If you're a fan of Charles Bukowski, I highly recommend this book.
4 people found this helpful
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justin peabody
5.0 out of 5 stars A Poet Worth Reading
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2024
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He's always fun.
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Kirk Alex
4.0 out of 5 stars Don't drink & drive.
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020
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Another winner from the accomplished Abel DeBritto.

Lotsa good stuff in this volume. What some of the younger
scribes don't get, though, is that Buk did not write drunk . . .
he drank while writing, but would knock off once he was
plastered, because, you see, otherwise you end up with
crap.
Got that, homey? The other thing is Buk was great at hyping
that image, of the hard-drinking scribe. You've seen the photos:
Chinaski pouring brew down his throat. The one image that sticks out,
more than any other, is Bukowski on that French tv program, taking a great hit
from the wine bottle.
That was show, dudes. Hype. Premeditated. Pushed his sales through the
roof in France (& other countries in Europe).

Anyway, want to drink? Stick to beer. Otherwise, you end up like Hemingway . . .
or some of the others, going off the deep end. Not that there is anything the matter
with that . . . if that's your goal.

Anyway, Mr. DeBritto's book was worth reading. Bought it used. I wouldn't pay $16.99
for it. (That's what the US publisher is asking.)
10 people found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book for a hardcore fan
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2016
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great insight for the uber fan. If you're a casual Bukowski fan, you may find this a little bit boring, or slow. I love it though. Just more fuel for my avid Bukowski fire!
2 people found this helpful
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Cristian Gil
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
Very good read. Not my first Charles Bukowski book though.
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James R. Dracy
3.0 out of 5 stars Fan-boy stuff
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
Always love me some Bukowski... but... This book is not about writing. It is a collection of letters to different friends and editors. I was hoping for a more forward examination of the craft. Each letter might contain some tidbit about how hard writing is... how bad some other authors are... how miserable his life has been... how drinking, writing, sex, and horse races are the only real pleasures in his life, but, I suspect, if you're already a Bukowski fan, you already know this.
8 people found this helpful
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Critics’ Club
5.0 out of 5 stars Un texto sincero
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2021
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Un texto sincero,Escudriñar la mente de un maestro a través de su correspondencia nos permite descubrir el funcionamiento de una de las grandes mentes del siglo XX
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Anthony Schreiber
5.0 out of 5 stars Bukowski: the beginning
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2020
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If you like Bukowski then this is an important book revealing how he became the great poet. I enjoyed the read and recommend it to all.
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Danielle Benvenuto
5.0 out of 5 stars a complete inspiration as a poet and writer
Reviewed in Germany on December 28, 2023
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Loved reading his letters...they give you a perspective that reading his other works can't give. I felt inspired throughout.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in India on April 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
Amazing read for all the writers out there.
One person found this helpful
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Giulia G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Bukowski rivelato!
Reviewed in Italy on August 8, 2018
Verified Purchase
È un vero e proprio spaccato della quotidianità di Bukowski scrittore, ne rivela la parte più intima e sordida, i pensieri non detti e spesso solo abbozzati, come se non gliene importasse un fico secco se il destinatario delle sue lettere potesse cogliere o meno le sue epifanie incompiute. Ci si accorge di avere di fronte un homo che non cerca affatto l'approvazione dei critici e degli editori, anzi la rifugge! Lui scrive per vivere e vive per scrivere, non pernla gloria, ma semplicemente perché purtroppo o per fortuna non conosce altro modo di vivere, di sopravvivere.
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K. G.
5.0 out of 5 stars a question of philosophy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2017
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I do not personally subscribe to the popularised culture of the death of the author; in my opinion, context enriches and adds a world of relevance, an extra dimension, to the texts that writers leave behind. If you like mystifying the man behind the pen, making an image of Bukowski purely based on his published works and receiving only what he gives, this book is not for you. Similarly, if you are a first time reader of Bukowski and would prefer to meet his poetry before meeting him, I would not recommend –– taking this on would be like diving into the deep end.
Despite the unsettling feeling of creeping on Bukowski's seemingly mundane activities, akin to a pesky fly on the wall, I love this book. There are moments of such clarity, beauty and self awareness contrasted with grit, fatigue and self loathing. It's honest and real and the closest thing we have to truly learning about the potty-mouthed poet; Bukowski comments on his work and process like an old friend throughout. If anything, you walk away feeling the passion of his love for writing and understanding the struggle he had in reconciling this with bad habits and an unwilling world. This is not simply business correspondences, there is poetry and prose hidden in between the lines and breathtaking philosophical comments. Very reflective. I'm not a Bukowski super-fan by any means, but I can appreciate this. I think that whether you like this or not will boil down to meta-literary arguments about how you read texts and what you aim to get from them. Personally, I loved this.
11 people found this helpful
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midnitejohnny
5.0 out of 5 stars Letters from Hank
Reviewed in Canada on September 3, 2015
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Terrific collection of chronological letters revealing Bukowsli's thoughts, knowledge, insight, depth and humanity. My favourite writer and inspiration!
One person found this helpful
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