Charles R. Jackson

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Charles R. Jackson (1902-1968) was an American author, best known for his 1944 novel, The Lost Weekend.

Jackson published The Lost Weekend in 1944, his first novel. The semi-autobiographical novel chronicled a struggling writer's five day binge, and was made into a critically acclaimed film the following year. Paramount Pictures paid $50,000 for the rights to adapt the novel.

After his early success, Jackson continued to write, though few of his works approached the commercial and critical success of his first bestseller. Charles R. Jackson died (suicide) in New York City in 1968.

He is sometimes confused with a different Charles Jackson who published a book about his experiences as a World War II prisoner of war.

He was a binge drinker who got recovery and spoke to others in large groups, sharing his experience, strength and hope. A recording of his talk in Cleveland, OH in May of 1959 was recorded and is available (vide infra xa-speakers). He was the first speaker in AA to openly address drug dependence (Barbiturates and paraldehyde) as part of his story.

Whether he was gay or bisexual is unclear, however his intense, compelling description of homoeroticism in his novel "The Fall of Valor" has the authenticity of a first person narrative.