From a notebook in wine stains

Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) was so prolific that many important works were never published during his lifetime. From a Wine-Stained Notebook is a substantial selection of these various works, most of which have been unavailable since their first publication in underground newspapers, literary magazines, even porn magazines. Among the iconic texts in this collection are Bukowski's first published novella, The Consequences of a Long Rejection Letter; the last short story "The Other"; various essays and essays on politics, lifestyle, literature; part of his famous newspaper column "Notes of an old bastard". The book contains reflections on familiar themes for Bukowski (drinking, racing, sex, books and music), as well as separate discussions of such figures as Artaud, Pound, Dostoyevsky, Capote, Mailer, reflections on the canvases of Van Gogh - all under an unforgettable and the unique music of Beethoven and Mahler. Other significant works have an experimental title; a fictional description of a meeting with John Fante as a kind of homage to the author's role model ("My Meeting with the Master").