I just happened on
Spinning Off Bukowski at my local used book dealer:
What happened after 1969 to influence Bukowski to begin reading at universities? Did Bukowski's writing change at all beginning around 1970? Did he cease writing how he detested 'the rich?' Did he cease writing how folks who owned and drove Cadillacs were dead? ... Did he even just 'tone it down' a little? Did he begin writing that endurance is more important than truth? Did he cease writing and/or telephoning me with sincere apologies about something he did the night before while we were drinking together? Yes. ... Why did he change in 1970? What happened in 1969-1970 which got him acting, doing things, doing such opposing things to ideals he clearly espoused in his works between 1965 and 1969? Maybe the year 1965 is too late. Maybe he actually lived these earlier ideals from 1955 to 1969. Maybe I state the year '1965' only because that's the year that 'I' first met him
p.123-124 (c) Sun Dog Press
Obviously this is not directly about Mr. Bukowski and Mr. Martin, but it does refer to the time frame that, according to the timeline here at buknet (
http://bukowski.net/timeline/), Bukowski quit the post office, started paying child support, and began to receive his stipend from Martin. Not sure if that helps.
One thing is for sure though, it makes me motivated to get my hands on some of his rare early stuff!