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Charles Bukowski

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Bibliography

Dorbin, Sanford. A Bibliography of Charles Bukowski. Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press, 1969, 93 p.

Partially annotated primary and secondary bibliography through 1968.

Fox, Hugh. Charles Bukowski: A Critical and Bibliographical Study. Sommerville, MA: Abyss Publications, 1969, 121 p.

Fox offers a comprehensive study of Bukowski's work through 1968, and a comprehensive study of all published work and reviews from 1944 through 1969.

Biography

Cherkovski, Neeli. Hank: The Life of Charles Bukowski. New York: Random House, 1991, 335 p.

Cherkovski presents a detailed biography of Bukowski.

Criticism

Byrne, Jack. "Bukowski's Chinaski: Playing Post Office." The Review of Contemporary Fiction 5, No. 3. (Fall 1985): 43–51.

Surveys critical reaction to Bukowski's work, addressing the thin division between the author and his character Chinaski in Post Office.

Review of Crucifix in a Deathhand: New Poems, 1963–1965, by Charles Bukowski. The Carle ton Miscellany VI, No. 4 (Fall 1965): 92–3.

Praises Bukowski's "absolute lack of self-pity" and "almost terrifying honesty."

Carruth, Hayden. "Images." Bookletter (March 31, 1975): 4.

Poet and critic Carruth praises Bukowski's honest use of language but finds fault with his stock subject matter.

Creeley, Robert. "Think What's Got Away…" Poetry Vol; CII, No. 1 (1963): 42–8.

Review of Run With the Hunted praises Bukowski's straightforward language.

Conroy, Jack. "A Skidrow Poet." The American Book Collector 16:6 (February 1966): 5.

Conroy offers praise for Bukowski's collections Crucifix in a Deathhand and Cold Dogs in the Courtyard.

Evanier, David. "Madman Incarnate." The New Leader 56:8 (April 16, 1973): p 19–20.

Evanier criticizes Bukowski as being self-destructive and erratic, yet values his originality.

Harrison, Russell T. "An Analysis of Charles Bukowski's Tire Station'." Concerning Poetry 18:1 & 2 (1985): 67–83.

Harrison illustrates two recurrent conflicts in Bukowski's work, that between men and women and between the individual and the society.

Kessler, Stephen. "Notes On A Dirty Old Man." The Review of Contemporary Fiction 5:3 (Fall 1985): 60–3.

Kessler compares Bukowski's novels to those of Henry Miller, praising him as a warrior of the spirit.

Nolan, James E. and L. John Cieslinski. "Prime Bukowski." The Small Press Review Vol. 19, No. 2 (February 1987): 12.

Review of Relentless as the Tarantula asserts that Bukowski's unique style and strong narratives keep his poetry fresh and vital.

Ostriker, Alicia. "Other Times, Other Voices." Partisan Review Vol. XXXVIIJ, No. 2 (1971): 218–26.

Review of At Terror Street and Agony Way in which noted critic Ostriker comments favorably on Bukowski's style and his personal as a "likeable male chauvinist."

Sherman, Jory. Bukowski: Friendship, Fame and Bestial Myth. Augusta, Ga: Blue Horse Publications, 1981, 38 p.

Sherman offers reminiscences of Bukowski in his early days, as well as letters from 1960 through 1973.

Smith, Jules. "A singular self." TLS No. 4562 (September 7, 1990): 956.

Review of Septuagenarian Stew: Stories and Poems criticizes Bukowski's poetry as overly self-centered and repetitive.

Swastek, Joseph. Review of Poems and Drawings by Charles Bukowski. Polish American Studies 20:1 (January-June 1963): p. 55–6.

Swastek praises work for its "hard, concrete corner of contemporary reality."

Interviews

Bukowski, Charles with Marc Chénetier. "An Interview." Northwest Review Vol. 16, No. 3 (1977): 5–25.

Bukowski discusses his aesthetic, his composition method, and his disassociation with prevalent literary movements.


Additional coverage of Bukowski's life and career is contained in the following sources published by Gale Research: Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vols. 2, S, 9, 41, 82; Discovering Authors: Novelists Module; Discovering Authors: Poets Module; Contemporary Authors, Vols. 17–20R, 144; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vol. 40; Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 5, 130; and Major Twentieth-Century Writers.

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Criticism

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