Charles Bukowski, Prolific Writer, Dies at 73

Bukowski, Known For Depicting Urban Depravity, Was Considered One of America's Best Poets

Poet, novelist, and short story writer, Charles Bukowski passed away at 73 on March 9, 1994

Charles Bukowski, considered by Jean-Paul Sartre to be America’s best poet, has passed away at the age of 73. Bukowski was a prolific underground writer who used his poetry and prose to depict the depravity of urban life and the downtrodden in American society.

Born Heinrich Karl Bukowski in Andernach, Germany, on August 16, 1920, Bukowski immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of two. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, and attended Los Angeles City College. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Bukowski worked a variety of jobs, including as a manual laborer, a mail carrier, and a bartender.

Bukowski began writing poetry in the early 1950s, and his first collection, Flower, Fist and Bestial Wail, was published in 1959. He went on to publish more than 50 books of poetry, novels, and short stories, including Post Office (1971), Factotum (1975), and Women (1978).

Bukowski's work is characterized by its raw honesty, dark humor, and exploration of themes such as alcoholism, poverty, and sexual abuse. He was a controversial figure, but his work has been praised by critics for its authenticity and power.

Bukowski died of leukemia on March 9, 1994, at his home in San Pedro, California. He is survived by his wife, Linda Lee Bukowski, and his daughter, Marina Louise Bukowski.