“I sat back down and poured a glass of wine. I left my door open. The moonlight came in with the sounds of the city: juke boxes, automobiles, curses, dogs barking, radios . . . We were all in it together. We were all in one big shit pot together. There was no escape. We were all going to be flushed away.”

American poet and novelist of the 20th century, Charles Bukowski is best known for his raw, unflinching portrayals of working-class life and his rebellious, often darkly humorous prose. His work, steeped in grit and authenticity, captures the struggles and resilience of ordinary people with uncompromising honesty.