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On Writing

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( 2,336 ratings, 303 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
On Writing by Charles Bukowski is a compelling selection of the author's letters that provides insight into his thoughts on the craft of writing. Through this candid correspondence, Bukowski shares his raw, unapologetic perspectives on literary expression, struggles with the publishing industry, and the relentless pursuit of truth through words. His reflections offer an unfiltered glimpse into the mind of a writer challenging conventions and embracing authenticity.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you're intrigued by the raw and unfiltered thoughts of a writer deeply immersed in the craft. It's a compelling read for those keen on exploring the poetic and often irreverent musings of a literary icon, offering unique insights into the world of writing and creativity.

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The never-before-published letters of Charles Bukowski on the art of writing.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A collection of previously unpublished letters from America's cult icon on the art of writing. Charles Bukowski was one of our most iconoclastic, raw and riveting writers, one whose stories, poems and novels have left an enduring mark on our culture.

On Writing collects Bukowski's reflections and ruminations on the craft he dedicated his life to. Piercing, unsentimental, and often hilarious, On Writing is filled not only with memorable lines but also with the author's trademark toughness, leavened with moments of grace, pathos, and intimacy.

In the previously unpublished letters to editors, friends, and fellow writers collected here, Bukowski is brutally frank about the drudgery of work and uncompromising when it comes to the absurdities of life and of art.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

On Writing by Charles Bukowski is celebrated for its authentic depiction of the gritty, everyday life of American society. Reviews commend Bukowski as a genuine voice of the streets, bringing raw emotion and stark reality to his poetry and prose. Described as an American original, his unique style resonates with readers and critics alike, capturing the spirit of those on the fringes.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781782117247

Publisher: Canongate Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Canongate Books

Edition: Main

Contributors:

  • Edited by Abel Debritto

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 154g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Charles Bukowski is one of America's best-known contemporary writers of poetry and prose, and, many would claim, its most influential and imitated poet. He was born in 1920 in Andernach, Germany, to an American soldier father and a German mother, and brought to the United States at the age of three. He was raised in Los Angeles and lived there for fifty years. He published his first story in 1944 when he was twenty-four and began writing poetry at the age of thirty-five. He died in San Pedro, California, on March 9, 1994, at the age of seventy-three, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp.

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