Bukowski was far more verbally abusive than ever anything physical. His characterization as a wife beater is largely due to the confusion between his literary alter ego of Henry Chinaski and the actual man himself. Also, when doing filmed interviews with Barbet Schroder, he kicked at his wife in a fit of anger (the clip is linked right from the bukowski tag) and when that got out his image as a wife beater expanded, but in fact, none of his former wives or relationships ever really said he was physically violent.

Oh, and you forgot to add "write some really good poetry and a few good novels." That's actually why he's famous, by the way.

Hello, I am a joke and not only am I flying over stanleypain's head I'm also flying over his sandy vagina.