A Rage in Harlem - Softcover

Himes, Chester

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1841950246 ISBN 13: 9781841950242

Publisher: Canongate Books, 2000

Synopsis

To be square in Harlem is to risk your life. And Jackson is so square that he can't see through the lovely Imabelle, even when she introduces him to a man who knows the secret of turning $10 notes into $100s. Jackson ends up losing his life savings to the con-man, stealing from his boss and blowing this 'borrowed' sum at the crap table. So begins Chester Himes' first foray into crime fiction, the novel that was to win him massive acclaim in France where it was published in 1958. It has since been translated into over a dozen languages as well as being turned into a major feature film. A Rage in Harlem also introduces readers to Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones, Harlem's toughest pair of cops and Himes' most memorable fictional creations. Renowned for their meanness and always armed with their legendary nickel-plated Colts, they patrol the streets of Harlem and attempt to keep some semblance of law and order.

About this title

Review:

[A Rage in Harlem] quickly achieved deserved cult status. The writing is a sheer delight: hard and edgy but never far from a wisecrack, and the plot vibrates with con-men, hard-nosed cops and shysters dressed as nuns. * * Time Out * * This tense puzzle is witty, angry and full of disturbing social insights. * * The Times * * [This book] assuredly earns the appellation classic. . . Himes challenges his readers to confront violence with a brutal realism that loses none of its impact today. * * The Herald * *

From the Back Cover:

To be square in Harlem is to risk your life. And Jackson is so square he can't see through the lovely Imabelle, even when she introduces him to a man who knows the 'secret' of turning $10 bills into $100s. Soon Jackson is losing his life-savings to this con man, stealing money from his boss and then blowing this 'borrowed' money on the crap tables.

So begins Chester Himes' first foray into crime fiction, the novel which was to win him massive international acclaim.

A Rage In Harlem introduces readers to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, Harlem's toughest cops and Himes' most memorable fictional creations. Renowned for their meanness and always armed with their legendary nickel-plated Colts, they patrol the streets of the ghetto trying to keep some semblance of order.

About this edition

• Publisher: Canongate Books
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1841950246
• ISBN 13: 9781841950242
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224