Pulp is the last completed novel by Los Angeles poet and writer Charles Bukowski. It was published in 1994, shortly before Bukowski's death. He began writing it in 1991 and encountered several problems during its creation. He fell ill during the spring of 1993, only three-quarters of the way through Pulp.[1]
Pulp is a pulp fiction novel which acts also as a meta-pulp. Pulp comments on the obsessions of the pulp fiction genre, making fun of itself as stereotypical of the genre in the grimiest form. Bukowski dedicates the story to "bad writing", as Bukowski did not plan his mystery novel well and frequently wrote Nicky Belane into holes from which he could not escape.[2] Bukowski wrote some of his most violent, cynical, sarcastic, and shocking work during the final months of his life. Many critics have agreed this novel exemplifies Bukowski showing an acceptance of his own pending mortality.
A convoluted detective story about a hard-boiled private eye who solves his cases by waiting them out, Pulp evokes Raymond Chandler, an author who lived in Los Angeles and set stories there, as did Bukowski. The novel also bears similarity to some works by Dashiell Hammett; and the name of character Nicky Belane rhymes suggestively with the name of author Mickey Spillane as well as Casablanca's main character Rick Blaine.
Main charactersEdit
Nicky BelaneEdit
Unlike other Bukowski novels, the narrator is not Henry Chinaski (although he does appear); instead, the novel follows private detective Nicky Belane as he attempts to track down French author Céline and the elusive Red Sparrow. Belane is a low-life private "dick" (or private investigator), who, like Bukowski, is unemployed more often than not. Also, like the author, Belane has a cynical attitude toward the world which is exacerbated by his excessive drinking.[3]
Lady DeathEdit
Lady Death is a beautiful and mysterious woman who hires Belane to find Céline. She is a barely concealed metaphor for death, hiring Belane because Céline has thus far escaped her grasp.[4]
CelineEdit
Louis-Ferdinand Céline always hangs around a book store, where he reads a few pages, and gets kicked out by the owner for not buying anything. The true identity of Celine remains a mystery throughout much of the novel, with Belane constantly saying that Celine died years ago from the first chapter of the book.
Jack BassEdit
Jack Bass is a client of Belane, who is suspicious that his wife is cheating on him.
Red SparrowEdit
The Red Sparrow is a spoof of the Black Sparrow Press, owned by John Martin, who is parodied as John Barton in the novel. The Red Sparrow symbolizes the coming of Belane's and Bukowski's own death. Belane gets "enveloped" by the Sparrow in the way a dead writer gets absorbed by his words—as printed, in this case, by Black Sparrow Press.[5]
Critical receptionEdit
In author George Stade's New York Times review of Pulp, he remarked, "As parody, Pulp does not cut very deep. As a farewell to readers, as a gesture of rapprochement with death, as Bukowski's sendup and send-off of himself, this bio-parable cuts as deep as you would want."[6]
Pop culture referencesEdit
The song "Private Eye" by the Chicago melodic punk band, Alkaline Trio, is a reference to this novel as a whole.[7]
Scottish band The Fratellis have a couple of references to the book in their 2013 record "We Need Medicine", including a song called "Jeannie Nitro" and references to "Celine and Lady Death" in the song "Whisky Saga".
ReferencesEdit
NotesEdit
^Sounes, Howard (1998). Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life(Print). New York: Grove Press. p. 234. ISBN9780802199300. Retrieved 11 October 2013.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Nericcio, William Anthony (Autumn 1995). . World Literature Today. 69 (4): 791. doi:10.2307/40151675. JSTOR 40151675. Archived from the original on 14 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
^Bukowski, Charles (1994). Pulp (7. printing. ed.). Santa Rosa, Calif.: Black Sparrow Press. ISBN0-87685-926-0.
^Bukowski, Charles (1994). Pulp (7. printing. ed.). Santa Rosa, Calif.: Black Sparrow Press. ISBN0-87685-926-0.
^""Death Comes for the Detective", by George Stade, June 5, 1994". NYTimes. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
^""Death Comes for the Detective", by George Stade, June 5, 1994". NYTimes. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
Conway, Mark (2004). Parini, Jay (ed.). Bukowski, Charles. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
BibliographyEdit
Original citation: Charles Bukowski. Pulp. Santa Rosa, Ca. Black Sparrow. 1994. 202 pages. $25 ($13 paper). ISBN0-87685-926-0LCCN 94-4352.
External linksEdit
Pulp Quotes
August 29, 2023
pulp, novel, pulp, last, completed, novel, angeles, poet, writer, charles, bukowski, published, 1994, shortly, before, bukowski, death, began, writing, 1991, encountered, several, problems, during, creation, fell, during, spring, 1993, only, three, quarters, t. Pulp is the last completed novel by Los Angeles poet and writer Charles Bukowski It was published in 1994 shortly before Bukowski s death He began writing it in 1991 and encountered several problems during its creation He fell ill during the spring of 1993 only three quarters of the way through Pulp 1 PulpFirst edition coverAuthorCharles BukowskiCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishGenreDetective fiction absurdist fiction postmodernismPublisherBlack Sparrow PressPublication date1994Media typePrintPages202Preceded byHollywood Contents 1 Plot 2 Main characters 2 1 Nicky Belane 2 2 Lady Death 2 3 Celine 2 4 Jack Bass 2 5 Red Sparrow 3 Critical reception 4 Pop culture references 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksPlot EditPulp is a pulp fiction novel which acts also as a meta pulp Pulp comments on the obsessions of the pulp fiction genre making fun of itself as stereotypical of the genre in the grimiest form Bukowski dedicates the story to bad writing as Bukowski did not plan his mystery novel well and frequently wrote Nicky Belane into holes from which he could not escape 2 Bukowski wrote some of his most violent cynical sarcastic and shocking work during the final months of his life Many critics have agreed this novel exemplifies Bukowski showing an acceptance of his own pending mortality A convoluted detective story about a hard boiled private eye who solves his cases by waiting them out Pulp evokes Raymond Chandler an author who lived in Los Angeles and set stories there as did Bukowski The novel also bears similarity to some works by Dashiell Hammett and the name of character Nicky Belane rhymes suggestively with the name of author Mickey Spillane as well as Casablanca s main character Rick Blaine Main characters EditNicky Belane Edit Unlike other Bukowski novels the narrator is not Henry Chinaski although he does appear instead the novel follows private detective Nicky Belane as he attempts to track down French author Celine and the elusive Red Sparrow Belane is a low life private dick or private investigator who like Bukowski is unemployed more often than not Also like the author Belane has a cynical attitude toward the world which is exacerbated by his excessive drinking 3 Lady Death Edit Lady Death is a beautiful and mysterious woman who hires Belane to find Celine She is a barely concealed metaphor for death hiring Belane because Celine has thus far escaped her grasp 4 Celine Edit Louis Ferdinand Celine always hangs around a book store where he reads a few pages and gets kicked out by the owner for not buying anything The true identity of Celine remains a mystery throughout much of the novel with Belane constantly saying that Celine died years ago from the first chapter of the book Jack Bass Edit Jack Bass is a client of Belane who is suspicious that his wife is cheating on him Red Sparrow Edit The Red Sparrow is a spoof of the Black Sparrow Press owned by John Martin who is parodied as John Barton in the novel The Red Sparrow symbolizes the coming of Belane s and Bukowski s own death Belane gets enveloped by the Sparrow in the way a dead writer gets absorbed by his words as printed in this case by Black Sparrow Press 5 Critical reception EditIn author George Stade s New York Times review of Pulp he remarked As parody Pulp does not cut very deep As a farewell to readers as a gesture of rapprochement with death as Bukowski s sendup and send off of himself this bio parable cuts as deep as you would want 6 Pop culture references EditThe song Private Eye by the Chicago melodic punk band Alkaline Trio is a reference to this novel as a whole 7 Scottish band The Fratellis have a couple of references to the book in their 2013 record We Need Medicine including a song called Jeannie Nitro and references to Celine and Lady Death in the song Whisky Saga References EditNotes Edit Sounes Howard 1998 Charles Bukowski Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life Print New York Grove Press p 234 ISBN 9780802199300 Retrieved 11 October 2013 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint url status link Nericcio William Anthony Autumn 1995 World Literature in Review English World Literature Today 69 4 791 doi 10 2307 40151675 JSTOR 40151675 Archived from the original on 14 October 2010 Retrieved 11 October 2013 Bukowski Charles 1994 Pulp 7 printing ed Santa Rosa Calif Black Sparrow Press ISBN 0 87685 926 0 Bukowski Charles 1994 Pulp 7 printing ed Santa Rosa Calif Black Sparrow Press ISBN 0 87685 926 0 Death Comes for the Detective by George Stade June 5 1994 NYTimes 21 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Death Comes for the Detective by George Stade June 5 1994 NYTimes 21 November 2012 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Source Conway Mark 2004 Parini Jay ed Bukowski Charles a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Bibliography Edit Original citation Charles Bukowski Pulp Santa Rosa Ca Black Sparrow 1994 202 pages 25 13 paper ISBN 0 87685 926 0 LCCN 94 4352 External links EditPulp Quotes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pulp novel amp oldid 1065933257, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
