Charles Bukowski: On Cats (Hardcover)

Published in 2015, Charles Bukowski: On Cats, is part of a series of books published by Ecco, with each volume having an individual theme. In this case, Charles Bukowski’s works on the topic of Cats. Other books in the series include, On Writing, On Love, and On Drinking.

The editor of the series is Abel Debritto, a former Fulbright scholar and current Marie Curie fellow, working in the digital humanities. He is also the leading scholar on Charles Bukowski. He has written several papers on Bukowski and his research has appeared in many publications. His ground-breaking book, “Charles Bukowski, King of the Underground: From Obscurity to Literary Icon”, is a study on Bukowski’s appearances in small magazines from the late 1950s to 1970.

In the 2010s, Debritto began to see for himself what others in the Bukowski community had been saying for years: The posthumus poems being published differed from Bukowski’s original manuscripts of the same poems. Sometimes to a slight degree, sometimes total reworks of the poems. Many readers and critics noticed a decline in Bukowski’s writing in these books, and the easy conclusion was that Bukowski had somehow “lost it” in his in his final years. But Debritto was one of those who looked deeper and discovered that most of these were not written in Bukowski’s later years, but much earlier.

During a November 6, 2017 PBS radio broadcast, Debritto discussed his findings. He didn’t point to anyone as being responsible for the edits. But the following day, Ecco released “Storm for the Living and the Dead: Uncollected and Unpublished Poems” with Debritto listed as the editor.

In addition to the unedited poems found in On Cats, there are a number of great photographs of Bukowski with his cats over the years.

The book in this hardcover edition is in Near Fine condition, but the jacket has wrinkles, ripples and a small tear to the top of the front cover.

From the Publisher:
Acclaimed writer Charles Bukowski turns his signature eye on the world of felines. A series of essays and poems all about cats, Bukowski’s classic funny and frank tone becomes, at times, even endearing as he explores and honors the majestic creatures and our relationship with them.” —Bustle

Felines touched a vulnerable spot in the unfathomable soul of Charles Bukowski, the Dirty Old Man of American letters. For the writer, there was something elemental about these inscrutable creatures, whose searing gaze could penetrate deep into our beings. Bukowski considered cats to be forces of nature, elusive emissaries of beauty and love.

Funny and moving, On Cats offers Bukowski’s musings on these beloved animals and their toughness and resiliency. Poignant and free of treacle, On Cats is an illuminating portrait of this one-of-a-kind artist and his unique view of the world, witnessed through his relationship with the animals he considered among his most profound teachers.

Shelf 1