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Who is Charles Bukowski? Life, legacy, famous quotes & books
Charles Bukowski is one of the most authentic and visceral voices of American literature. Whether you are a lifelong fan, just discovered his writing, or are merely looking for Peter Bukowski or his Twitter hot-takes, you are likely tapping into a very particular cultural moment for yourself associated with the name "Bukowski."
In this article, we will answer the most popular questions to ask about Charles Bukowski, examine his legacy, decode "Don't try", and give you the must-read Bukowski books that are still captivating readers around the world.
🧔 Who is Charles Bukowski?
Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) was a German-American poet, novelist, and short story writer who wrote brutally honest and gritty tales of American life. His work draws on themes and subjects that include:
Alcohol and other addictions
Poverty and loneliness
The plight of the writer and working man
Sex, cynicism, and the hypocrisy of society
Often called by the term "dirty realism,” Bukowski never romanticized life — he ripped it and let it bleed on the page.
💬 "Don't Try": What's Bukowski's Meaning?
The words "Don't Try" are famously inscribed onto Charles Bukowski's tombstone — and there are many interpretations of the phrase.
First of all, and contrary to what some people might think, "don't try" doesn't mean don't try, but in a letter to a friend, Bukowski explains:
"Somebody at one of these places... asked me, 'What do you do? How do you write, create?' You don't try. That is very important. Not to try, either for Cadillacs, or creation, or immortality. You wait. And if nothing happens, you wait some more."
So, in short "Don't Try" means don't force creativity, let it happen naturally; in favour of authenticity and against ambition.
⚰️ How Did Charles Bukowski Die?
Charles Bukowski died from leukemia on March 9, 1994, at the age of 73. At that time Bukowski had only just finished his last novel Pulp, a noir parody and commentary on mortality.
📚 Best Charles Bukowski Books to Start With
If you're just stepping into Bukowski's world, here are two books to start you off:
1. Post Office
Bukowski's first book (novel) about working as a mail carrier for 12 years. Darkly funny and personal.
2. Ham on Rye
A semi-autobiographical account of his childhood and adolescent times. Raw, painful, unforgettable.
3. Women
An explicit/honest account of how he dealt with woman, after achieving notoriety as a successful writer.
4. Love is a Dog from Hell
This is one of the most powerful poetry collections I have ever read. The collection is a raw and painful, yet, sometimes fleetingly beautiful experience.
5. Pulp
This is his last novel. A surreal detective story that is kind of a parody and his goodbye.
📖 Who Was Peter Bukowski?
To be clear -- Peter Bukowski is not Charles Bukowski. He is a current NFL analyst/sports journalist who is known for his hot takes and updates he funneled through Twitter. If you were juxtaposing “Peter Bukowski Twitter,” you probably were looking for sport content, not gritty poetry.
The Relevance of Charles Bukowski
Bukowski was a non-conformer, not the Hollywood style, but a genuine rejecter of society. He spent his time, sitting behind his typewriter, pursuing his writing while not expecting to achieve anything. He lived paycheck to paycheck, as he battled his demons, fighting the good fight to express his truth. To this day, Bukowski speaks to anyone who has felt crazy, overlooked, or outside society.
Right now, you will find Bukowski's quotes plastered across Instagram feeds, and tattoo parlors, or replicated on dorm room walls, because he gives it to you without filters. It is hard to deny the brutality of his voice in contrast to the fakeness of the perfect world.
Famous Charles Bukowski Quotes
Here are a few lines that encapsulate the characteristics of his spirit:
"Find what you love and let it kill you."
"We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us."
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead."
Final Thoughts
So, just who is Charles Bukowski? Literary bandit. Patron saint of the unpolished. A writer that speaks your truth, no matter how ugly it may get.
