Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was born in Germany, but his family moved to the U.S. when he was three and settled in Los Angeles when he was ten. His father was physically abusive, and Bukowski started drinking alcohol in his early teens, marking the start of his lifelong alcoholism. After two years studying journalism at Los Angeles City College, Bukowski moved to New York City to become a writer, publishing short stories and poems. Bukowski worked at a post office in L.A. for most of the 1960s, but was finally able to quit and start writing full-time in 1969. He eventually published over 60 books, including novels and collections of short stories and poetry.