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{{Short description|1971 novel by Charles Bukowski}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox book| <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
{{Infobox book| <!-- See [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels]] or [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Books]] -->
| name = Post Office
| name = Post Office
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| publisher = [[Black Sparrow Press]]
| publisher = [[Black Sparrow Press]]
| pub_date = 1971
| pub_date = 1971
| english_pub_date =
| media_type = Print
| media_type = Print
| pages = 208
| pages = 208
| isbn =
| isbn = 0-87685-086-7
| oclc = 1031776074
| dewey = 813.54
| congress = PS3552.U4
| preceded_by =
| preceded_by =
| followed_by = [[Factotum (novel)|Factotum]]
| followed_by = [[Factotum (novel)|Factotum]]
}}
}}


'''''Post Office''''' is the first novel written by [[Charles Bukowski]], published in [[1971 in literature|1971]] when he was 50 years old.
'''''Post Office''''' is the first novel written by American writer [[Charles Bukowski]], published in [[1971 in literature|1971]]. The book is an [[Autobiography|autobiographical]] memoir of Bukowski's years working at the [[United States Postal Service]]. The film rights to the novel were sold in the early 1970s, but a film has not been made thus far.


==Plot==
==Plot==
In [[Los Angeles, California]], down-and-out barfly [[Henry Chinaski]] becomes a substitute [[mail carrier]]; he quits for a while and lives on his winnings at the track, then becomes a mail clerk. Chinaski drifts from place to place, surviving through booze and women, with his biting sense of humor and a cynical view of the world.<ref>Michael Nordine, [http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2012/11/02/best-la-novel-ever-john-fantes-ask-the-dust-vs-charles-bukowskis-post-office-round-1 "Best L.A. Novel Ever: John Fante's [[Ask the Dust]] vs. Charles Bukowski's Post Office, Round 1,"] ''[[LA Weekly]]'', November 2, 2012.</ref>
In [[Los Angeles, California]], down-and-out barfly [[Henry Chinaski]] becomes a substitute [[mail carrier]]; he quits for a while and lives on his winnings at the race track, then becomes a mail clerk. Chinaski drifts from place to place, surviving through booze and women, with his biting sense of humor and a cynical view of the world.<ref>Michael Nordine, [http://www.laweekly.com/publicspectacle/2012/11/02/best-la-novel-ever-john-fantes-ask-the-dust-vs-charles-bukowskis-post-office-round-1 "Best L.A. Novel Ever]: John Fante's [[Ask the Dust]] vs. Charles Bukowski's Post Office, Round 1," ''[[LA Weekly]]'', November 2, 2012.</ref>


==Writing and publication==
==Writing and publication==
An autobiographical account of Bukowski's years working as a carrier and sorter for the [[United States Postal Service]],<ref name="kryan">Kyle Ryan, [http://www.avclub.com/article/ipost-officei-by-charles-bukowski-60468 "Post Office by Charles Bukowski,"] ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', August 16, 2011.</ref> the novel is "dedicated to nobody". ''Post Office'' introduces Bukowski's autobiographical [[anti-hero]], Henry Chinaski. It covers the period of Bukowski's life from about 1952 to his resignation from the [[United States Postal Service]] three years later, to his return in 1958 and then to his final resignation in 1969. During this time, Chinaski/Bukowski worked as a mail carrier for a number of years. After a brief hiatus, in which he supported himself by gambling at horse races, he returned to the post office to work as a sorter.<ref name="kryan"/><ref>William Booth, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29917-2004Jul5.html "Charles Bukowski, Bard of Booze,"] ''[[Washington Post]]'', July 6, 2004.</ref>
An autobiographical account of Bukowski's years working as a carrier and sorter for the [[United States Postal Service]],<ref name="kryan">Kyle Ryan, [http://www.avclub.com/article/ipost-officei-by-charles-bukowski-60468 "Post Office by Charles Bukowski,"] ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', August 16, 2011.</ref> the novel is "dedicated to nobody". ''Post Office'' introduces Bukowski's autobiographical [[anti-hero]], Henry Chinaski. It covers the period of Bukowski's life from about 1952 to his resignation from the United States Postal Service three years later, to his return in 1958 and then to his final resignation in 1969. During this time, Chinaski/Bukowski worked as a mail carrier for a number of years. After a brief hiatus, in which he supported himself by gambling at horse races, he returned to the post office to work as a sorter.<ref name="kryan"/><ref>William Booth, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29917-2004Jul5.html "Charles Bukowski, Bard of Booze,"] ''[[Washington Post]]'', July 6, 2004.</ref>


The great love of Bukowski's life, Jane Cooney Baker ("Betty" in ''Post Office''), was a widowed alcoholic 11 years his senior with an immense beer belly. She died in January 1962.<ref name="kryan"/> She also served as the model for "Wanda" in the 1987 Bukowski-scripted film ''[[Barfly (film)|Barfly]]''. Bukowski's first wife, Barbara Frye ("Joyce"), suffered a physical deformity – two vertebrae were missing from her neck, giving the impression that "she was permanently hunching her shoulders". After two years of marriage in the late 1950s, she filed for divorce, accusing him of "mental cruelty". In the novel, Joyce is portrayed as a wealthy nymphomaniac.
The great love of Bukowski's life, Jane Cooney Baker ("Betty" in ''Post Office''), was a widowed alcoholic, 11 years his senior, with an immense beer belly. She died in January 1962.<ref name="kryan"/> She also served as the model for "Wanda" in the 1987 Bukowski-scripted film ''[[Barfly (film)|Barfly]]''. Bukowski's first wife, Barbara Frye ("Joyce"), suffered a physical deformity – two vertebrae were missing from her neck, giving the impression that "she was permanently hunching her shoulders". After two years of marriage in the late 1950s, she filed for divorce, accusing him of "mental cruelty". In the novel, Joyce is portrayed as a wealthy nymphomaniac.


In December 1969, [[John Martin (publisher)|John Martin]] founded [[Black Sparrow Press]] in order to publish Bukowski's writing, offering him $100 per month for life on condition that Bukowski would quit working for the post office and write full-time for Black Sparrow.<ref name="jsmith">Jonathan Smith, [http://www.vice.com/read/bukowskis-longtime-publisher-i-never-saw-him-drunk "'I Never Saw Him Drunk': An Interview With Bukowski's Longtime Publisher,"] ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'', June 20, 2014.</ref> Bukowski agreed; three weeks later, he had written ''Post Office''.<ref name="lmoody">Lori Moody, [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-03-16/features/9403160104_1_publisher-john-martin-charles-bukowski-john-rechy "Charles Bukowski Leaves A Controversial Legacy,"] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', March 16, 1994.</ref>
In December 1969, [[John Martin (publisher)|John Martin]] founded [[Black Sparrow Press]] in order to publish Bukowski's writing, offering him $100 per month for life on the condition that Bukowski would quit working for the post office and write full-time for Black Sparrow.<ref name="jsmith">Jonathan Smith, [https://www.vice.com/read/bukowskis-longtime-publisher-i-never-saw-him-drunk "'I Never Saw Him Drunk': An Interview With Bukowski's Longtime Publisher,"] ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'', June 20, 2014.</ref> Bukowski agreed; three weeks later, he had written ''Post Office''.<ref name="lmoody">Lori Moody, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/03/16/charles-bukowski-leaves-a-controversial-legacy/ "Charles Bukowski Leaves A Controversial Legacy,"] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', March 16, 1994.</ref>


==Film adaptation==
==Film adaptation==
The film rights to ''Post Office'' were sold to [[Taylor Hackford]] in the early 1970s, but a film version of the novel has yet to be made.<ref name="jsmith"/> Hackford did direct a 1973 documentary about Bukowski, simply titled ''[[Bukowski (1973 film)|Bukowski]]''.<ref name="lmoody"/>
The film rights to ''Post Office'' were sold to [[Taylor Hackford]] in the early 1970s, but a film version of the novel has yet to be made.<ref name="jsmith"/> Hackford did direct a 1973 documentary about Bukowski, titled ''[[Bukowski (1973 film)|Bukowski]]''.<ref name="lmoody"/>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [http://bukowskiquotes.com/2012/05/charles-bukowski-post-office-quotes/ ''Post Office'' quotes]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120816002451/http://bukowskiquotes.com/2012/05/charles-bukowski-post-office-quotes ''Post Office'' quotes]


{{Charles Bukowski}}
{{Charles Bukowski}}
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[[Category:1971 American novels]]
[[Category:1971 American novels]]
[[Category:Novels by Charles Bukowski]]
[[Category:Novels by Charles Bukowski]]
[[Category:Debut novels]]
[[Category:American autobiographical novels]]
⚫
[[Category:Autobiographical novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Novels set in Los Angeles]]
⚫
[[Category:1971 debut novels]]
[[Category:Novels about the United States Postal Service]]

Latest revision as of 03:11, 11 September 2024

Post Office
First edition cover
AuthorCharles Bukowski
LanguageEnglish
GenreAutobiographical novel
PublisherBlack Sparrow Press
Publication date
1971
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint
Pages208
ISBN0-87685-086-7
OCLC1031776074
813.54
LC ClassPS3552.U4
Followed byFactotum 

Post Office is the first novel written by American writer Charles Bukowski, published in 1971. The book is an autobiographical memoir of Bukowski's years working at the United States Postal Service. The film rights to the novel were sold in the early 1970s, but a film has not been made thus far.

Plot

[edit]

In Los Angeles, California, down-and-out barfly Henry Chinaski becomes a substitute mail carrier; he quits for a while and lives on his winnings at the race track, then becomes a mail clerk. Chinaski drifts from place to place, surviving through booze and women, with his biting sense of humor and a cynical view of the world.[1]

Writing and publication

[edit]

An autobiographical account of Bukowski's years working as a carrier and sorter for the United States Postal Service,[2] the novel is "dedicated to nobody". Post Office introduces Bukowski's autobiographical anti-hero, Henry Chinaski. It covers the period of Bukowski's life from about 1952 to his resignation from the United States Postal Service three years later, to his return in 1958 and then to his final resignation in 1969. During this time, Chinaski/Bukowski worked as a mail carrier for a number of years. After a brief hiatus, in which he supported himself by gambling at horse races, he returned to the post office to work as a sorter.[2][3]

The great love of Bukowski's life, Jane Cooney Baker ("Betty" in Post Office), was a widowed alcoholic, 11 years his senior, with an immense beer belly. She died in January 1962.[2] She also served as the model for "Wanda" in the 1987 Bukowski-scripted film Barfly. Bukowski's first wife, Barbara Frye ("Joyce"), suffered a physical deformity – two vertebrae were missing from her neck, giving the impression that "she was permanently hunching her shoulders". After two years of marriage in the late 1950s, she filed for divorce, accusing him of "mental cruelty". In the novel, Joyce is portrayed as a wealthy nymphomaniac.

In December 1969, John Martin founded Black Sparrow Press in order to publish Bukowski's writing, offering him $100 per month for life on the condition that Bukowski would quit working for the post office and write full-time for Black Sparrow.[4] Bukowski agreed; three weeks later, he had written Post Office.[5]

Film adaptation

[edit]

The film rights to Post Office were sold to Taylor Hackford in the early 1970s, but a film version of the novel has yet to be made.[4] Hackford did direct a 1973 documentary about Bukowski, titled Bukowski.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Michael Nordine, "Best L.A. Novel Ever: John Fante's Ask the Dust vs. Charles Bukowski's Post Office, Round 1," LA Weekly, November 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Kyle Ryan, "Post Office by Charles Bukowski," The A.V. Club, August 16, 2011.
  3. ^ William Booth, "Charles Bukowski, Bard of Booze," Washington Post, July 6, 2004.
  4. ^ a b Jonathan Smith, "'I Never Saw Him Drunk': An Interview With Bukowski's Longtime Publisher," Vice, June 20, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Lori Moody, "Charles Bukowski Leaves A Controversial Legacy," Chicago Tribune, March 16, 1994.
[edit]
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