The Henry Chinaski novels in chronological order
Charles Bukowski is the one of the most well known poets of the 20th Century, but his novels have equally stood the test of time. Charles Bukowski published a total of six books throughout his lifetime. His most popular novels follow the narrative of Henry Chinaski. A fictional, largely, semi-autobiographical character based on himself.
Charles Bukowski is the one of the most well known poets of the 20th Century, but his novels have equally stood the test of time. Charles Bukowski published a total of six books throughout his lifetime. His most popular novels follow the narrative of Henry Chinaski. A fictional, largely, semi-autobiographical character based on himself.
Bukowski published more than 45 books of poetry and prose, including 6 novels and the screenplay for the movie Barfly. He He died of pneumonia in San Pedro, California on March 9, 1994 at the age of 73, shortly after completing his last novel, Pulp. Free download or read online Pulp pdf (ePUB) book. The first edition of the novel was published in 1994, and was written by Charles Bukowski. The book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 208 pages and is available in Paperback format. The main characters of this fiction, novels story are Nicky Belane, Lady Death. Post Office (1971) Bukowski’s first novel, published when he was 50 years old, is an. PDF On Apr 1, 2008, Antonio Eduardo de Oliveira published Charles Bukowski Charles Bukowski Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate. Top 10 Charles Bukowski Books. Rating 1 The Last Night of.
In the span of about 19 years, from the release of Bukowski’s very first novel, Post Office, Henry Chinaski was center stage in his preceding four novels based on Bukowski’s semi-autobiographical character. But it wasn’t until Charles Bukowski released Ham on Rye, that his books could be placed in a consistent chronological order of events.
Although, the books weren’t released in order, reading them in chronological order offers reading Charles Bukowski with a more systematic and organized approach. Looking at the novels in chronological order also helps us understand Chinaski’s timeline, while also getting a clear picture of what it was like to be, Charles Bukowski.
In the process, we travel from the early 1920’s to the late 1980’s with booze-filled Henry Chinaski as our guide.
Charles Bukowski did release a final novel in 1994, Pulp. But his article will focus solely on the Henry Chinaski books by Charles Bukowski in order of his own chronology.
Charles Bukowski Books in Chronological Order
1. Ham On Rye (1982)
Ham on Rye is the fourth novel written and published in 1982 by Charles Bukowski. This was also the book that created a clear timeline and established Charles Bukowski’s novels in a chronological order.
The story focuses on a young Henry Chinaski coming of age in during the Great Depression in Los Angeles, CA. The story is set between 1920 to about 1942. We get a glimpse into his earliest memories and catch a startling look into his abusive father and victimized mother along with the US entering a Great Depression and eventually World War II.
Chinaski grows up and staggers into his youth. In addition, we see and observe his tribulations through his teens into early adulthood. Along with his discovery of wine and alcohol.
The end of the books leaves us with a glimpse of what is to be in Factotum. Chinaski, sitting at a bar as an announcement of Japan bombing Pearl Harbor fills the airwaves and televisions. Dropped out of college and without a job.
Related: 5 Essential Charles Bukowski Books
2. Factotum (1975)
Factotum is Charles Bukowski’s second novel, published in 1975. The story essentially picks up where Ham on Rye left off. Chinaski is a drunk, roaming between towns and jobs. The war is waging on in the background, but none of it is a concern for Henry Chinaski. He goes from New Orleans to Los Angeles and then to New York, and then back all over again. Consequently, quitting job after job, never staying in one spot for more than a few weeks or months at a time.
He meets Jan who becomes on of his longtime girlfriends. They live together for months before splitting up again. Henry meets women after women and encounters various individuals who don’t stay in his life for longer than a few weeks. We continue to follow Chinaski as he jumps from job to job. Factotum ends with Henry sitting at a strip club with no job once again.
3. Post Office (1970)
After Charles Bukowski quit his decade long tenure working for the Los Angeles Post Office, he took a month to write about his time on the job, which became his first novel, PostOffice, his first novel published in 1970.
We see Henry Chinaski drive through a lake of water to deliver his mail. He fights and bickers with people awaiting their mail. Waking up with an endless sea of hangovers to go perform a job he hates, only to repeat the process year after year.
At one point, he even marries a young rich girl and leaves his job at the Post Office. In the end, he finds himself returning to the Post Office and only decides to quit after his longtime girlfriend passes away and makes him question his life and mortality.
The novel ends with Chinaski sitting at his typewriter to produce his first novel about his decade long stay in the Post Office.
4. Women (1978)
Women, Charles Bukowski’s third novel published in 1978, mainly contains various short stories about his relationship and disagreements with the many women Bukowski encountered. Chinaski is much older and is a well famed poet and writer by this point. He goes by the name Hank Chinaski rather than Henry for the most part of the novel.
Chinaski portrays an honest look into his relationships with women. Bukowski doesn’t hold back in telling the stories in his most vivid and honest words possible — despite the all the profanity involved. Some may find this novel offensive in nature, but it is part of the Henry Chinaski narrative.
In short, Women offers a glimpse into the hectic relationships of Charles Bukowski and makes us question if he fears commitment while offering an eccentric and disturbing insight into human relationships.
Related: 15 Charles Bukowski Quotes About Life, Love, and Writing
5. Hollywood (1989)
Hollywood, published in 1989, is one of Bukowski’s final novels and hist last to be based on Henry ‘Hank’ Chinaski. Hank is an aging established writer and poet, reaching the end of his career. In this novel, it is the most obvious that he is writing about himself and his development. As well as him aging as a successful writer.
He gets offered to write a script for a movie based on himself. The real life film Barfly. Above all, Hollywood covers his experience of writing his own screenplay along with the tedious process of dealing with the director, the people involved with production of the film, and the funding for the movie to come together.
Charles Bukowski Books Pdf
Bukowski’s final novel based on the character Henry Chinaski, showcases him well into his success. Creating a movie he doesn’t really care too much about. Yet he manages to share some truth on the human condition in the only way Bukowski can.
Related:5 Essential Jack Kerouac Books
More from Minor Clash
Download Charles Bukowski : Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life –
Howard Sounes
ebook
Howard Sounes
Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life is the classic biography of Charles Bukowski, the hard-drinking barfly whose semi-autobiographical books about low-life America made him a cult figure across the globe. Extensive original research and unique contributions from friends, family and associates – including Mickey Rourke, Robert Crumb, Sean Penn, Norman Mailer and Allen Ginsberg – as well as personal photographs and drawings by Buk himself make this a must for Bukowski devotees and new readers alike.
Women Charles Bukowski Pdf
Download Charles Bukowski : Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life –
Howard Sounes
Howard Sounes
PDF ebook
Women By Bukowski
Download Charles Bukowski : Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life –
Howard Sounes
Howard Sounes
EPUB ebook