Beginning in 1967 Bukowski wrote the column Notes of A Dirty Old Man for the underground newspaper Open City Perennially drunk broke & in search of a woman Bukowski takes on the guise of a wise fool as he ventures through America's seedy lowlife Peopled by Kerouac Burroughs & other much less salubrious characters his exploits provoke humour & despair whilst highlighting the inherent beauty & futility of life