The First Beauty in the City

Charles Bukowski — the iconic American writer of the 20th century, whose European popularity has always surpassed his American one (in Germany alone, the print run of his books exceeded two million during his lifetime), author of more than forty books, including novels, poems, essays, and short stories.

Despite often shocking naturalism, his texts are full of lyricism, even a peculiar sentimentality.

Bukowski is rightly considered a master of the short form, and his collection «The First Beauty in the City», which forms a kind of two-volume set with the classic «Tales of Ordinary Madness», is a vivid confirmation of this: bringing his signature command of language to incredible perfection, Bukowski guides his lyrical hero — a womanizer and a drunkard, a clear alter ego of the author — through all circles of modern hell.