--- product_id: 3992146 title: "Post Office: A Cult Classic Work of Gritty Realism and Dark Humor" price: "117 Lei" currency: RON in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.ro/products/3992146-post-office-a-cult-classic-work-of-gritty-realism-dark store_origin: RO region: Romania --- # Post Office: A Cult Classic Work of Gritty Realism and Dark Humor **Price:** 117 Lei **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Post Office: A Cult Classic Work of Gritty Realism and Dark Humor - **How much does it cost?** 117 Lei with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ro](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/3992146-post-office-a-cult-classic-work-of-gritty-realism-dark) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Charles Bukowski’s classic roman à clef, Post Office , captures the despair, drudgery, and happy dissolution of his alter ego, Henry Chinaski, as he enters middle age. Post Office is an account of Bukowski alter-ego Henry Chinaski. It covers the period of Chinaski’s life from the mid-1950s to his resignation from the United States Postal Service in 1969, interrupted only by a brief hiatus during which he supported himself by gambling at horse races. “The Walt Whitman of Los Angeles.”—Joyce Carol Oates “He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels.”—Leonard Cohen, songwriter Review: As if Terry Gilliam directed a booze-fueled bureaucratic nightmare - A delirious, repetitive, repressed and hostile bureaucratic nightmare, Post Office is a novel that takes on Bukowski's decade-plus chained to the postal system. As a compelling artist, sloppy drunk, and sexually voracious gambler, Bukowski drifts in and out of his narrative with unsentimental anger and boozy energy, an undercurrent of resentment and anger everpresent until it is contrasted clean with the interest and indulgent love for the women in his life. The most provocative elements of this book was certainly the portions where we see the shuffling, confusing, scary catch-22 Brazil-esque burlesque of his work in the Post Office itself. Cycling in and out, over and over, unable to even quit his job, Bukowski created a labyrinthine grand guinol of paper and sorting boxes all standing in his way of his net drink, his next lay, and his ability to even write a halfway decent line of poetry. In many ways, this reflects how I personally see my own art in the world, and it is in this manner that I really connected with his character in this book. In real life, the genesis of this book and Bukowski’s career came from being offered a hundred bucks a month to quit the post office to promise to write full time by John Martin and Black Sparrow Press…and so we all wish for this little black sparrow angel to fly into our window someday. The most beautiful element of the book was easily the portrayal of his relationship with Betty (Jane Cooney Baker). They were perfect for each other, but in the piece the sentimentality with which he approached their relationship in both tone, diction, syntax, and other practical elements isn’t mirrored by any other writing in the book or in his approach to any other woman in any of his books. It is simply this beautiful, pure, self-destructive relationship that serves as a wholly gorgeous and holy relic that he certainly held on to for the rest of his life…and it seems that the story arc with her is one of the most beautiful things that he had ever written – the only thing that he had ever cared for snatched from him just as he realized that it was the most important thing in the world to him. What destroyed her is exactly what he tried to destroy himself with, and in her death he found the death of love, the death of a healthy sexual identity, and the death of himself. Of course, the narrative pacing and overall diction of Bukowski's narrative voice are certainly the most compelling elements of this book. There is a certain blue-collarness to his writing that offers a remarkably simple approach to what is often a much more serious and Complicated piece – but his genius lies in this very thing. Bukowski can create a story that is appropriate for all intellectual audiences and still write something that is completely different in terms of overall beauty and meaning in the English Language. This is likely why legions of writers thought they could follow in his footsteps and write when nothing could be further from the truth (and Bukowski had no problem telling them that). An excellent, excellent, excellent book that should be required reading for all American men. Review: Entertaining for all the wrong reasons - This book is a first person recounting of the life of a post office worker through a multitude of sexual relationships, gambling, smoking and an excessive amount of drinking. It is not a comedy but there are many points where you will probably laugh (like I did). It is not a tragedy but there are many points where you will be extremely sad and frustrated (like I was). It is extremely vulgar and occasionally violent. Contains a scene describing a sexual assault. I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than at least 18 (I probably wouldn't recommend it to most adults), and I imagine that most female readers would find the sexualization (which is present whenever a female character is present) obnoxious at the very least. This all being said, it is an entertaining read that has me thinking about the decisions that I have made about my work life, about how I choose to treat others, and about the responsibilities I have towards my own well being. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #17,605 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #9 in Tragic Dramas & Plays (Books) #15 in Absurdist Fiction (Books) #65 in Biographical & Autofiction | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 7,842 Reviews | ## Images ![Post Office: A Cult Classic Work of Gritty Realism and Dark Humor - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81yJ5QRDDCL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ As if Terry Gilliam directed a booze-fueled bureaucratic nightmare *by G***R on May 4, 2016* A delirious, repetitive, repressed and hostile bureaucratic nightmare, Post Office is a novel that takes on Bukowski's decade-plus chained to the postal system. As a compelling artist, sloppy drunk, and sexually voracious gambler, Bukowski drifts in and out of his narrative with unsentimental anger and boozy energy, an undercurrent of resentment and anger everpresent until it is contrasted clean with the interest and indulgent love for the women in his life. The most provocative elements of this book was certainly the portions where we see the shuffling, confusing, scary catch-22 Brazil-esque burlesque of his work in the Post Office itself. Cycling in and out, over and over, unable to even quit his job, Bukowski created a labyrinthine grand guinol of paper and sorting boxes all standing in his way of his net drink, his next lay, and his ability to even write a halfway decent line of poetry. In many ways, this reflects how I personally see my own art in the world, and it is in this manner that I really connected with his character in this book. In real life, the genesis of this book and Bukowski’s career came from being offered a hundred bucks a month to quit the post office to promise to write full time by John Martin and Black Sparrow Press…and so we all wish for this little black sparrow angel to fly into our window someday. The most beautiful element of the book was easily the portrayal of his relationship with Betty (Jane Cooney Baker). They were perfect for each other, but in the piece the sentimentality with which he approached their relationship in both tone, diction, syntax, and other practical elements isn’t mirrored by any other writing in the book or in his approach to any other woman in any of his books. It is simply this beautiful, pure, self-destructive relationship that serves as a wholly gorgeous and holy relic that he certainly held on to for the rest of his life…and it seems that the story arc with her is one of the most beautiful things that he had ever written – the only thing that he had ever cared for snatched from him just as he realized that it was the most important thing in the world to him. What destroyed her is exactly what he tried to destroy himself with, and in her death he found the death of love, the death of a healthy sexual identity, and the death of himself. Of course, the narrative pacing and overall diction of Bukowski's narrative voice are certainly the most compelling elements of this book. There is a certain blue-collarness to his writing that offers a remarkably simple approach to what is often a much more serious and Complicated piece – but his genius lies in this very thing. Bukowski can create a story that is appropriate for all intellectual audiences and still write something that is completely different in terms of overall beauty and meaning in the English Language. This is likely why legions of writers thought they could follow in his footsteps and write when nothing could be further from the truth (and Bukowski had no problem telling them that). An excellent, excellent, excellent book that should be required reading for all American men. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Entertaining for all the wrong reasons *by ***** on March 30, 2024* This book is a first person recounting of the life of a post office worker through a multitude of sexual relationships, gambling, smoking and an excessive amount of drinking. It is not a comedy but there are many points where you will probably laugh (like I did). It is not a tragedy but there are many points where you will be extremely sad and frustrated (like I was). It is extremely vulgar and occasionally violent. Contains a scene describing a sexual assault. I would not recommend this book to anyone younger than at least 18 (I probably wouldn't recommend it to most adults), and I imagine that most female readers would find the sexualization (which is present whenever a female character is present) obnoxious at the very least. This all being said, it is an entertaining read that has me thinking about the decisions that I have made about my work life, about how I choose to treat others, and about the responsibilities I have towards my own well being. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Perfect *by K***R on July 27, 2026* As always. Charles bukowski doesn't disappoint. He deserves every reader. And I'm sad he is no longer with us to give us more. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.ro/products/3992146-post-office-a-cult-classic-work-of-gritty-realism-dark](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/3992146-post-office-a-cult-classic-work-of-gritty-realism-dark) --- *Product available on Desertcart Romania* *Store origin: RO* *Last updated: 2026-09-10*