Literary History of Los Angeles
A Typewriter on an Adventure Photo uploaded by avlxyz
With a city so rich in cinematic history, the great writers of LA tend to be overlooked. Beyond the glitz and glam, lie writers like Charles Bukowski, Joan Didion, and Raymond Chandler who bring the city to life through their words.
DiscoverLosAngeles.com provides a wonderful article on the literary history of the city of angels. As Bukowski said, “Since I was raised in LA, I’ve always had the geographical and spiritual feeling of being here…I’ve had time to learn this city. I can’t see any other place than LA.” If he’s your style, check out Esotouric’s tour of Bukowski’s favorite spots in the city. They also offer two Raymond Chandler tours, which help tourists discover how Los Angeles shaped not only his fiction, but the course of his life.
There’s no better way to discover the intricacies of a city than by reading first-hand accounts of calling it home. After you’ve learned the stories of these great writers of the past, be sure and take in a reading at a local coffee shop to appreciate LA’s thriving 21st century writers. You’ll most likely find a new author to love, as well as understand why LA is a city that still inspires great works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
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Cool post. Thanks for sharing, Jamie!