The poetry collection, “Love is a Dog From Hell” by Charles Bukowski, published in 1977, explores love, relationships, loneliness, and the dark side of human existence.
Bukowski examines the ups and downs of romantic relationships, often presenting a bleak and disillusioned perspective. He delves into topics such as heartbreak, longing, desire, and the pain that can arise from love.
The title reflects Bukowski’s view that love as a force can both uplift and destroy, much like a wild and unruly dog.
Bukowski reflects on his own experiences and observations of the human condition. He draws from personal encounters with the seedy underbelly of society, and moments of introspection, to craft his poetic narratives.
Two of his most captivating lines are: “There is a loneliness in this world so great that you can see it in the slow movement of the hands of a clock. People so tired mutilated either by love or no love.”
Bukowski was an American poet and writer known for his raw, gritty, brutally honest and cynical depictions of life.
He was born in Germany and moved to the US with his family when he was a child.
After completing high school, he attended Los Angeles City College for two years and took courses in art, journalism and literature.
Throughout his life, Bukowski continued to educate himself through extensive reading, exploring a wide range of literary works from both classic and contemporary authors.
He immersed himself in the works of writers including Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ernest Hemingway, John Fante and Louis-Ferdinand Celine.
As reflected in his works, Bukowski had a difficult childhood and adolescence, marked by poverty, abuse and alienation.
