The collection comprises an unsigned, untitled, and undated handwritten manuscript of a prose piece composed by Charles Bukowski, noted American poet. The 8-page text consists of a monologue about life, the arts, friends, and many other matters, written in a free-form style--often without punctuation or page numbers--with the honesty and humor characteristic of Bukowski's other works.

Henry Charles Bukowski, renowned 20th century American poet, was born August 16, 1920 in Andernach, Germany. In 1923, his family left Germany for the United States settling in Los Angeles in 1924. Following his graduation from high school in 1939, Bukowski enrolled at Los Angeles City College but left Los Angeles after receiving failing grades and experiencing discouraging changes in his family life. He worked in physically demanding jobs before he decided to leave California to travel and experience life in other parts of the country. In 1946 he moved back to Los Angeles, where he found employment working for the postal service, first as a mail carrier and later as a mail sorter.

0.1 Linear Feet (1 oversize folder)

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.

Collection open for research.