Charles Bukowski published 33 major works including 6 novels, 21 poetry collections, and 6 prose books. This complete bibliography lists all his works in chronological order.
First novel, written at 51. Based on his decade at the US Postal Service. Introduced alter ego Henry Chinaski.
Set during the Depression. Young Chinaski cycles through dozens of menial jobs, quits or gets fired from all of them.
Chinaski in his 50s after literary success. Chronicles relationships with dozens of women. His most controversial book.
Coming-of-age novel covering childhood through high school. Abusive father, severe acne, social isolation. Most widely read of his novels.
About the making of "Barfly" starring Mickey Rourke. Bukowski meets producers, directors, and studio executives. Most comedic of his novels.
Final novel. Detective noir parody featuring private eye Nick Belane. Completed while dying of leukemia. Departure from autobiographical mode.
Collected columns from LA Free Press 1967-1969. Led to his first novel contract.
Short story collection. Characters in bars and flophouses.
Short stories. Sex and violence in urban America.
Short fiction about relationships and loneliness.
Travel journal with photos from 1978 Germany reading tour.
Anthology spanning entire career. Stories, poems, and novel excerpts. Good entry point for new readers.
First poetry collection, published at 40. Established his conversational style and core themes.
Early collection. Voice becoming more confident and distinctive.
Poetry about mortality and sex. His style fully formed by this point.
Collection with memorably bleak title. Poems about desperation and the absurd.
Written during transition from postal work to full-time writing. Documents the shift.
Selected poems 1955-1973. Comprehensive overview of his first two decades writing.
Entirely about relationships and sex. His most popular collection. Entry point for many readers.
One of literature's longest titles. Poems about the writing process and creating art.
Middle-period work. Reflects on aging and literary fame.
Poems 1981-1984. Title reflects constant daily struggle and conflict.
Short stories and prose poems. Condensed narratives.
Late-period collection. More introspective than earlier work. About solitude and aging.
Selected early poems 1946-1966. Shows development before he was widely known.
Stories and poems written in his 70s while dealing with illness.
Written while confronting terminal illness. Direct engagement with death.
Final poems and stories completed before death. Published posthumously.
Unpublished poems from his archive. Title became one of his most quoted lines.
More unpublished work from his archive. Shows consistent voice across decades.
Another archive release. Demonstrates his prolific output throughout life.
Late poems from archive. Title references his search for the right words.
Final archive release. Unusually tender title for Bukowski.
By Neeli Cherkovski. Written by Bukowski's close friend. First-person account of their friendship and Bukowski's rise to fame.
By Howard Sounes. Exhaustively researched biography with interviews from friends, family, and lovers. Includes unpublished writings and photographs.