These Words I Write

Keep Me From

Total Madness

Novels


While Bukowski's persona, Henry Chinaski, appears in most of his poetry, only in fiction does the character come alive. Chinaski embodies the culture of the down-and-out, the people on the bottom, constantly working to make it, but never making it work. But Chinaski never loses his dignity or pride, even when its been down so long everything else looks like up.
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Factotum.
Santa Barbara CA: Back Sparrow P, 1975.
Bukowski's second novel. Concerns his stretch of job after job, a time of cruel employment and excessive drinking. Tales of roominghouses and women, movement from one to the other, then quickly forgotten.
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Ham On Rye.
Santa Barbara CA: Black Sparrow, 1982.
The novel, dedicated to "All the fathers," recounts Bukowski's youth and his relationship with his own father. Tracks Bukowski's youthful days, when there was no money, only strength and the desire to write.
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Hollywood: A Novel.
Santa Rosa CA: Black Sparrow, 1989.
Thinly veiled autobiography of Bukowski's involvement with the movie Barfly. The astute reader will recognize characterizations of Mickey Roarke and Faye Dunaway, among other Hollywood players.
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Post Office.
Los Angeles CA: Black Sparrow, 1970.
Bukowski's first novel. Fast, funny, Post Office follows Chinaski's exploits through 11 years of frustration and grief with the Postal Service. The best of his novels.
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Pulp.
Santa Rosa CA: Black Sparrow, 1994.
Bukowski's last novel published before his death on March 9, 1994. Received mostly good reviews. A post-modern Mickey Spillain thriller, with Bukowski's sly wit, the comedian in him, in sharp form.
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Women.
Santa Barbara CA: Black Sparrow, 1978.
The other classic Bukowski novel. Henry Chinaski, alone for 4 years, 50 years old, redefines Don Juan. He finds love, and more love.