Ham on rye cover - first edition

[enditus]

Hi,
Does anyone know who the people are on cover of first edition of Ham on Rye?
And how was it that this cover was decided for this book?

 

[d gray]

it's a page from bukowski's high school yearbook. it's him and his classmates.

bukowski's the guy who looks like the janitor.

 

[enditus]

The guy with a balding hairline? Comeon, he doesn't look like a janitor!
He looks like a really mean politician though.

Any clue on why this cover was selected?
I would expect a lady sitting cross legged flaunting her milky thighs as the cover.

 

[d gray]

did you read the book?

that's a clue right there...

 

[hank solo]

Here are the names, for posterity.

 

[skiroomalum]

The Bulfinch twins. That is some priceless shit.

 

[enditus]

d gray: Yes, I have read the book.
Are you referring to the altercation that Henry had with the guy at Senior Prom and there is this passage in the book:

"What for? This is the Senior From and I'm a senior."
He flashed his light into my face. The hand was playing "Deep Purple."
"Bullshit!" he said. "You're at least 22 years old!"
"I'm in the yearbook, Class of 1939, graduating class, Henry Chinaski."

And the fact that it is Charles Bukowski who is on the yearbook gives it to the reader that Henry Chinaski is nothing but Buk's alter ego and the entire book is a semi-autobiographical account.

hank solo Thanks a lot for this photo!

Sandeep.

 

[Bruno Dante]

"Usually likes to fish" makes me laugh for some reason. Did he ever even mention fishing?

"What for? This is the Senior From and I'm a senior."
He flashed his light into my face. The hand was playing "Deep Purple."
"Bullshit!" he said. "You're at least 22 years old!"
"I'm in the yearbook, Class of 1939, graduating class, Henry Chinaski."

And the fact that it is Charles Bukowski who is on the yearbook gives it to the reader that Henry Chinaski is nothing but Buk's alter ego and the entire book is a semi-autobiographical account.

It's the stuff you mention plus Chinaski's experiences at school in general being so central to the novel.

 

[d gray]

thanks. i'd given up by then...