Sometimes known as the real Charles Bukowski. He is certainly one of Buks greatest influences. Fante wrote about Los Angeles in the early part of the century and the characters that populated it.
The writing is breathless and wide eyed and horny and demented while still being very grounded and simple. If there is room in your heart for Bukowski you will LOVE this even more.

A good author to have around to one up liberal arts types who talk up Bukowski like he's some long lost genius that they discovered personally.

a partial list of his works:
Wait Until Spring, Bandini
The Road to Los Angeles
1933 Was a Bad Year
The Brotherhood of the Grape