Legendary barfly Charles Bukowski's fourth novel, first published in 1982, is probably the most autobiographical and moving of all his books, dealing in particular with his difficult relationship with his father and his early childhood in LA. Ham on Rye follows the path of Bukowski's alter-ego Henry Chinaski through the high school years of acne and rejection and into the beginning of a long and successful career in alcoholism. The novel begins against the backdrop of an America devastated by the Depression and takes the Chinaski legend up to the bombing of Pearl Harbour. Arguably Bukowski's finest novel.
Charles Bukowski, geb. am 16. August 1920 in Andernach, lebte seit seinem zweiten Lebensjahr in Los Angeles. Nach Jobs als Tankwart, Schlachthof- und Hafenarbeiter begann er zu schreiben und veröffentlichte weit über 40 Prosa- und Lyrikbände. Charles Bukowski starb am 9. März 1994 in San Pedro/L.A.
© Michael Montfort
"There is real poignancy in the people encountered in Bukowski's work." - New York Times Book Review
"The poet laureate of sour alleys and dark bars, of racetracks and long shots." - Washington Post
"A prolific poet . . . a popular, accessible, and yes, great artist." - Washington Post Book World
"The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles." - Joyce Carol Oates
"He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels." - Leonard Cohen
"The poet laureate of sour alleys and dark bars, of racetracks and long shots." - Washington Post
"A prolific poet . . . a popular, accessible, and yes, great artist." - Washington Post Book World
"The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles." - Joyce Carol Oates
"He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels." - Leonard Cohen