Mad, immortal stories now surfaced from the literary underground.
Charles Bukowski's stories have addicted legions of American readers, even though the high literary establishment continues to ignore them. In Europe, however (particularly in Germany, Italy, and France where he is published by the great publishing houses), he is critically recognized as one of America's greatest realist writers.
In Bukowski's trademark semi-autobiographical short prose style, he addresses recurrent themes such as Los Angeles bar culture, alcoholism, gambling, sex, and violence. Many of the stories contain elements of fantasy and surrealism.
Stories contained in The Most Beautiful Women in Town include: Kid Stardust on the Porterhouse; Life in a Texas Whorehouse; Six Inches; The Day We Talked About James Thurber; The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, Calif; and A Drinking Partner among many others.
Collections such as The Most Beautiful Woman in Town . . . showcase Bukowski's impressive narrative and creative abilities in stories that most often take place in bars and dingy apartments but are not simply about sex and alcohol. They're about staying alive in a world where the only choice for the majority of us is to face a firing squad in an office every day--the post office, in Bukowski's case--or maintain a commitment to creativity as we struggle to pay for food and a meager place to live.--Adam Perry, Santa Fe Reporter
About the Author: Charles Bukowski was born in Andernach, Germany in 1920 and brought to Los Angeles at age three. Using the city as a backdrop for his work, Bukowski wrote prolifically, publishing over fifty volumes of poetry and prose. He died in San Pedro, California on March 9, 1994. His books are widely translated and posthumous volumes continue to appear.
