Review by Rachel Burke

Known as a prolific drunken misogynist, Bukowski probably wouldn’t be regarded by many as a nice chap. He was however a prolific writer who penned thousands of poems, six novels and various collections of short stories, The Most Beautiful Woman In Town being one of them. This collection was originally named Erections, ejaculations, exhibitions and general tales of ordinary madness, a far better title in my opinion being much more relevant to the contents of the work.

Like much of Bukowski’s writing, these short stories are themed around issues of alcohol, sex, violence, relationships with women (mainly failed relationships) the drudgery of unemployment and the act of writing itself. They are not pretty tales, nor do they reflect kindly on Bukowski himself, being semi autobiographical, however the writing is intelligent, gripping and lacking in self deprecation. This means that as a reader you will be simultaneously appalled and fascinated with the man Time Magazine referred to as a ‘laureate of American lowlife’.