Bukowski in Pictures (First Edition, 2000)

Description

Howard Sounes, already known to Bukowski readers for his biography Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life, returns here not with another book about Bukowski’s words, but a collection of visuals that trace the hard-won, beer-soaked journey of America’s favorite dirty realist. Sounes curates a remarkable visual biography—from pulp magazine clippings and Buk’s own manuscripts to deeply human, occasionally hilarious photos from every phase of his public and private life. It’s not a soft-focus portrait of the artist as a drunk old man—it’s the whole mess: the bruised ego, the battered face, the raw charisma — as well as the work.

Published in 2000 by Rebel Inc. (an imprint of Canongate), this is the true first edition—hardcover in jacket, printed and bound in Italy by LEGO (no, not the toy company, but yes, still a fun detail).  This title stands as one of the most aesthetically complete books on Bukowski out there—an indispensable companion to the writing.

Buk in full frame—take a long look. Especially at that terrific shot by Gypsy Lou of Buk at the typer pawing those two issues of Jon Webb’s amazing Outsider — Lou’s two covers.