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Charles Bukowski: Autobiographer, Gender Critic, Iconoclast
Charles Bukowski disliked academics, as this academic and readable book points out from page one onward of its introduction, "Charles Bukowski vs. American Ways." Begun before Bukowski died in 1994, Charles Bukowski: Autobiographer, Gender Critic, Iconoclast was the first doctoral dissertation on his prose and poetry up to that date, and it is offered now for fans and academics alike-no more need for black-market sales. Chapter One, "Placing Bukowski," introduces Bukowski's amazing life and career and relates his work to influential predecessors (primarily Ernest Hemingway and John Fante) and four contemporaries (Raymond Carver, Kurt Vonnegut, Frederick Exley, and Hunter Thompson). Chapter Two, "Bukowski Among the Autobiographers," pursues Bukowski's comprehensive autobiographical project. Harnessing Timothy Dow Adams' concept of "strategic lying," the chapter follows Bukowski's thinly veiled personae through three stages-first through the attention-getting "Dirty Old Man," then responding to the attention and (re)defining himself, finally culminating in "Henry Chinaski," the hero of Bukowski's five autobiographical novels. Chapter Three, "Problems of Masculinity: At 'Home,' at Work, at Play," tackles the knee-jerk assessment of Bukowski as just a sexist "Dirty Old Man." Michael Kaufman's "triad of men's violence" (against women, other men, and themselves) explains the general Bukowski persona as a complicated gender construct. Bukowski's Bildungsroman, Ham on Rye, shows Chinaski as victim, practitioner, and critic of male violence, with the last role figuring into his other work too. Chapter Four, "Bukowski vs. 'Institution Art,'" classifies this challenging author as both populist and avant-garde. As general postmodern phenomenon, he blends the democratic accessibility of populist writing with the adventurous gesturing of the avant-garde, and the result is direct, daring, truthful, and funny. The book's conclusion, "Summing Up: Giving Bukowski His Due," predicts that Bukowski will be read far into the 21st century. Buy his books before you buy this one..
Price: $15.00
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The Autobiographer's Handbook: The 826 Valencia Guide to Writing Your Memoir
With an introduction by Dave Eggers, this guide by the founders of 826 Valencia features anecdotes and advice from dozens of bestselling memoirists The best way to learn about writing a memoir is from the masters of the form. In The Autobiographer’s Handbook, dozens of the best memoirists in the world explain their methods, struggles, inspirations, and strategies in the most unique writing guide on the market today. Founded by author Dave Eggers and veteran teacher NÃnive Calegari, 826 Valencia operates seven nonprofit writing centers nationwide. Only The Autobiographer’s Handbook—the first in a planned series of 826 Valencia writing guides—features the prominent, published authors who have shared their secrets at 826 workshops and who now bring their best advice to the page. Participants include Frank McCourt, Tobias Wolff, A. J. Jacobs, Alison Smith, Art Spiegelman, Anthony Swofford, David Rakoff, Elizabeth Gilbert, Nick Flynn, Sarah Vowell, Steve Almond, and many more. Eggers’s introduction encourages all to write their stories, if not for publication, then for the benefit of their children and grandchildren. The book offers lighthearted sidebars (“History’s Strangest Actual Memoirs,” “The Nom de Plume Generator,” and “Childhood Tragedies Unlikely to Move the Reader”) to keep readers engaged and writing assignments to keep them working toward their goal. The Autobiographer’s Handbook is like having coffee with dozens of your bestselling memoirist friends (and a drill instructor), and it will be the writing guide for aspiring memoirists of all ages for years to come. .
Price: $10.20
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African American Autobiographers: A Sourcebook
There is growing popular and scholarly interest in autobiography, along with increasing regard for the achievements of African American writers The first reference of its kind, this volume chronicles the autobiographical tradition in African American literature. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for 66 African American authors who present autobiographical material in their works. The volume profiles major figures, such as Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Malcolm X, along with many lesser known autobiographers who deserve greater attention. While some are known primarily for their literary accomplishments, others have gained acclaim for their diverse contributions to society. The entries are written by expert contributors and provide authoritative information about their subjects. Each begins with a concise biography, which summarizes the life and achievements of the autobiographer. This is followed by a discussion of major autobiographical works and themes, along with an overview of the autobiographer's critical reception. The entries close with primary and secondary bibliographies, and a selected, general bibliography concludes the volume. Together, the entries provide a detailed portrait of the African American autobiographical tradition from the 18th century to the present..
Price: $56.97
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Life Writing: Autobiographers and Their Craft
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The Middle Age and Their Autobiographers A. D. 1000 - 1500
THE MIDDLE AGES AND THEIR AUTOBIOGRAPHERS THE LETTERS OF ABELARD By Charles J. Bushnell of the Pacific University AVICENNA, 980-1037 The Life of Avicenna AL GHAZALI, 1049-1111 "The Rescuer from Error" PETER ABELARD, 1079-1142 "An Open Letter" SALIMBENE, 1221-1288 "The Chronicle of Brother Salimbene" DANTE, 1265-1321 "The New Life" PETRARCH, 1304-1374 "A Letter to Posterity" TIMUR THE LAME, 1336-1405 "The Mulfuzat Timury" SIR JOHN FROISSART, 1337-1410 "A Chronicle of England, France and Spain" SIR PHILIP DE COMINES, 1445-1509 "Memoirs of Philip de Comines, Lord of Argenton".
Price: $24.50
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