Charles Bukowski, born Heinrich Karl Bukowski on August 16, 1920, in Andernach, Germany, and passed away on March 9, 1994, in San Pedro, California, is a figure whose life and work have left an indelible mark on American literature. Known for his gritty, unflinching portrayal of life on the margins of society, Bukowski's writing is characterized by its raw realism, controversial themes, and a unique voice that resonates with readers seeking authenticity and grit.

Editnng a post after zod…

In this blog post, we will explore the life of Charles Bukowski, delving into his early years, career milestones, personal struggles, and lasting legacy. This comprehensive overview will provide insights into how Bukowski's tumultuous experiences shaped his literary voice and the enduring impact of his work.

Charles Bukowski was born to a German father and a German-American mother. His father, Heinrich Bukowski, was a strict and often abusive figure, while his mother, Katharina, was more passive and accommodating. The family moved to the United States when Bukowski was just two years old, settling in Los Angeles. This transition marked the beginning of Bukowski's lifelong relationship with the city, which would become a central backdrop in his writing.

Bukowski's early years were marred by hardship. The Bukowski family lived in a poor neighborhood, and Charles experienced a tumultuous upbringing characterized by poverty and domestic conflict. His father's abusive behavior and the economic struggles of his family had a profound impact on Bukowski's worldview, shaping his later works with themes of hardship, isolation, and resilience.

Despite his difficult upbringing, Bukowski was a voracious reader and a budding writer from a young age. He attended Los Angeles High School but struggled academically and socially. Bukowski's early interests included literature and poetry, but he was largely self-taught, absorbing influences from a wide range of writers.

One of Bukowski's early literary influences was the poet and novelist John Fante, whose gritty, realist style resonated with the young Bukowski. Fante's work provided Bukowski with a model of how to write authentically about the struggles of ordinary people. This influence would become evident in Bukowski's own writing, characterized by its unvarnished depiction of life's harsh realities.

Bukowski's early attempts at writing were met with mixed success. His poetry and short stories were frequently rejected by literary magazines, a reflection of the unconventional and often controversial nature of his work. Bukowski's writing, characterized by its blunt language and raw depiction of life, did not conform to the more polished and traditional standards of the literary establishment at the time.

Despite these setbacks, Bukowski remained committed to his craft. He continued to write prolifically, drawing inspiration from his own experiences of poverty, alcoholism, and failed relationships. This relentless dedication to writing in the face of rejection is a testament to Bukowski's determination and belief in his own voice.

In the 1960s, Bukowski began to gain recognition as an emerging voice in the literary world. His work started to appear in small literary magazines, and he began to build a reputation as the "poet of the underclass." This label reflected Bukowski's focus on the lives of marginalized individuals, often portraying the struggles of the working class, the downtrodden, and the disenfranchised.

Bukowski's work during this period was marked by a distinctive style that combined elements of confessional poetry with a gritty, realist approach. His poems and stories often depicted life on the fringes of society, capturing the raw, unfiltered experiences of those living in poverty or struggling with addiction.

Bukowski's breakthrough came in 1971 with the publication of his novel "Post Office." The book, a semi-autobiographical account of Bukowski's experiences working as a mail carrier, was met with critical acclaim and established him as a significant literary figure. "Post Office" was notable for its candid portrayal of the monotony and degradation of working-class life, as well as its exploration of themes such as alienation and disillusionment.

The success of "Post Office" marked a turning point in Bukowski's career. It provided him with a larger audience and increased visibility, leading to further opportunities to publish and perform his work. Bukowski's distinctive voice and unconventional style began to attract a following, and he became known for his unapologetic, raw approach to storytelling.

In the 1980s, Bukowski's fame continued to grow, and he became a prominent figure in the literary and countercultural scenes. During this period, Bukowski's work began to attract attention from mainstream audiences, and he gained a reputation as a cultural icon. His appearances on television talk shows and his public readings further cemented his status as a literary rebel and provocateur.

Bukowski's writing during this period continued to reflect his distinctive voice and themes. His novels, such as "Women" (1978) and "Ham on Rye" (1982), delved into his experiences with relationships, mental health, and the struggles of living on the margins of society. These works, along with his poetry and short stories, continued to captivate readers with their unflinching honesty and raw emotional power.

Throughout his life, Bukowski struggled with alcoholism, a challenge that influenced both his personal life and his writing. Bukowski's relationship with alcohol was both a source of inspiration and a significant obstacle. His drinking habits were often reflected in his work, which frequently explored themes of addiction and self-destruction.

Bukowski's health issues, including a series of hospitalizations and medical complications, further complicated his life. Despite these challenges, Bukowski continued to write prolifically, using his personal struggles as a source of material for his work. His ability to channel his experiences into his writing demonstrated his resilience and commitment to his craft.

Bukowski's personal life was marked by a series of tumultuous relationships and failed marriages. His interactions with women, both in his writing and personal life, were often characterized by a combination of vulnerability and aggression. Bukowski's relationships with women were a recurring theme in his work, reflecting his complex and sometimes troubled approach to intimacy.

Despite the difficulties he faced in his personal life, Bukowski maintained a sense of humor and a defiant attitude. His writing often reflected his belief in the power of individuality and the importance of staying true to oneself. Bukowski's resilience in the face of personal challenges is a testament to his strength and determination.

Charles Bukowski's influence on contemporary literature is both profound and far-reaching. His unflinching portrayal of life's harsh realities and his distinctive writing style have inspired a generation of writers and poets. Bukowski's work has been credited with pushing the boundaries of traditional literary forms and introducing a new level of raw honesty to the literary world.

Bukowski's impact is particularly evident in the realm of confessional and realist literature. His exploration of themes such as poverty, addiction, and alienation has resonated with readers and writers alike, contributing to a broader understanding of the human condition. Bukowski's influence can be seen in the work of numerous contemporary authors who continue to explore similar themes and employ similar styles in their writing.

Despite his passing in 1994, Charles Bukowski's work continues to captivate and inspire readers around the world. His writing remains popular for its authenticity, its exploration of the human experience, and its ability to confront difficult and often uncomfortable truths. Bukowski's ability to capture the essence of life on the fringes of society has ensured that his work remains relevant and resonant.

Bukowski's legacy is also reflected in the continued interest in his life and work. Documentaries, biographies, and critical studies have explored various aspects of his life, providing further insights into the man behind the words. Bukowski's enduring appeal is a testament to the power of his writing and the impact of his unique voice on the literary world.

Charles Bukowski's life and work represent a powerful exploration of the human experience, characterized by its raw realism and unapologetic honesty. From his early struggles and rejection to his eventual rise to fame and enduring influence, Bukowski's journey is a testament to the power of literature to confront and illuminate the complexities of life.

Bukowski's writing continues to resonate with readers, offering a window into the lives of those living on the margins of society and providing a voice for the struggles and triumphs of the human condition. His legacy endures through his work, which remains a powerful and provocative exploration of the realities of life.

Linear is available as a desktop application, from the browser, and on mobile or tablets as a PWA.

We recommend using our desktop clients for the best experience.

Linear is available for macOS Intel, macOS Apple Silicon, and Windows. Download the desktop app at linear.app/download.

The benefits of using the desktop app are:

• Notifications are integrated with the native OS. This is especially useful to Safari users since Safari does not support our browser notification system (made with PushAPI).
• Linear is always on and the dock quickly alerts you of unread notifications.
• Keyboard shortcuts have less risk of conflicting with browser-based presets or custom shortcuts.

We periodically check if the Linear desktop app is installed on your computer. We achieve this by sending network requests to your localhost (your computer) on different ports. Each port check helps us determine if our desktop app is running. This then allows us to seamlessly open certain URLs directly in the desktop app, enhancing your user experience and ensuring better integration between our web and desktop applications.

The ports we check are 44450, 18450, and 33234.

For updates, the desktop app downloads and installs updates automatically in the background. To disable automatic updates for MacOS:

Terminal

defaults write /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.linear AutoUpdateDisabled -bool YES

Use the following command to re-enable automatic updates: defaults write /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.linear AutoUpdateDisabled -bool NO

Plist

Using a /Users/$USER/Library/Preferences/com.linear.plist file deployed through MDM, the contents would be:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<key>AutoUpdateDisabled</key>
<true/>
</plist>

The Linear web app can be access by logging in to linear.app. Linear will launch directly in your browser window.

Nearly all functionality in the desktop app including offline mode is available on the web. Linear should work on most evergreen browsers. We recommend Chrome or Safari and do our best to maintain support for other popular browsers such as Firefox and Brave.

Open in desktop app: This browser preference opens Linear links in the desktop app if installed. Universal links can be configured from the browser version Account > Preferences > Behavior > Open in desktop app.

Brave Shields
Brave users should disable "Brave Shields" for the linear.app domain to allow the website to connect to and open the desktop app automatically.

Use Linear on your mobile or tablet devices with our Progressive Web App (PWA). Go to linear.app to sign in. Because of our performant client and offline sync, the mobile app is also really fast.

Add a shortcut to the website to your mobile phone or tablet's home screen to access Linear faster on the go.

iOSAndroid

Open linear.app in Safari, tap the Share icon, then select the Add to Homescreen action.

You can bring up the command menu on mobile with a two-finger tap from anywhere on the screen. This makes it incredibly easy to select and then take an action on issues in mobile.

Use the clipboard to upload images or videos to issues and comments. Just copy the photo in your Camera Roll and then paste it into Linear.

Linear automatically syncs all changes in realtime as they happen. This is critical to your team's ability to collaborate well and work quickly. If for some reason changes cannot be sent to the backend, the app will store changes locally and re-try whenever connectivity is restored (e.g. internet is back up).

You'll start seeing the words "Syncing" appear next to the workspace name at the top of your sidebar when the app detects that there are a lot of changes waiting to be synced or when sending changes take longer than expected. The number next to it shows how many changes are waiting to be sent. They'll be reloaded and retried even if you restart the application before restoring connectivity.

Offline mode is designed as a failsafe and not a full-fledged feature.
We do not check the creation date of each change before updating data. This means that if you make a lot of edits while in offline mode, you could overwrite changes from someone on your team (e.g. if you edited the issue description or they had updated status).

Do you support Linux?

Will you build a mobile app?

My app is stuck in offline mode.

Being stuck in offline mode may relate to a known Chromium bug. Please toggle your wifi off and on again from your computer's menubar.