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

About the Author

Chester Himes was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1909. Expelled from Ohio State University (he was in the same class as Ralph Ellison), in 1928 Himes was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for armed robbery. His writing career began in jail and on release he had a number of controversial novels, including Lonely Crusade, published before he left America for good. It was in Paris that he began writing thrillers, which were extremely successful - his first, A Rage in Harlem, won the 1958 Grand Prix Policier and the subsequent Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones novels were big hits both in France and America. He died in Spain in 1984.

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.

Edition details

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