The Song of the Flea

by Gerald Kersh

With The Song Of The Flea (1948) Gerald Kersh revisited the demi-monde of his famous Night And The City ; but this novel concerns a writer, striving doggedly to make his living.

'A remarkable novel... with this book Mr Kersh has taken a big step forward.' Sunday Times

'[Kersh] has a remarkable talent... he is one of the comparatively few living novelists in this country who write with energy and originality and whose ideas are not drawn from a residuum of novels that have been written before... [ The Song of the Flea ] is the story of John Pym, a young man trying to earn his living as a writer... Mr Kersh draws on his picturesque and convincing knowledge of human vileness in a manner which is both entertaining and instructive.' Times Literary Supplement .

Genres: Fiction

357 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Gerald Kersh was born in Teddington-on-Thames, near London, and, like so many writers, quit school to take on a series of jobs -- salesman, baker, fish-and-chips cook, nightclub bouncer, freelance newspaper reporter and at the same time was writing his first two novels.

In 1937, his third published novel, Night and the City, hurled him into the front ranks of young British writers. Twenty novels later Kersh created his personal masterpiece, Fowler's End, regarded by many as one of the outstanding novels of the century. He also, throughout his long career, wrote more than 400 short stories and over 1,000 articles.

Once a professional wrestler, Kersh also fought with the Coldstream Guards in World War II. His account of infantry training They Die With Their Boots Clean (1941), became an instant best-seller during that war.

After traveling over much of the world, he became an American citizen, living quietly in Cragsmoor, in a remote section of the Shawangunk Mountains in New York State. He died in Kingston, NY, in 1968.

(Biography compiled from "Nightmares & Damnations" and Fantastic Fiction.)

Reviews

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book.

[Severian13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry Fabian, the infamous, immoral chancer of the great Gerald Kersh's Night And The City, is back to his old ways in this epic tale of struggling to find your place in the world. Fabian now goes by the name American Henry and plays a supporting role to the real main character, the too-kind-for-his-own-good writer John Pym. He and every character he meets (including Fabian) are part of the dismal mid-20th Century London that Kersh knew so well, and their lives read like a Charles Bukowski down-and-outer piece, but without the sickly, overly sexual content that Bukowski portrayed. Pym's problems in getting things written, helping people out, living a hand to mouth existence and trying to stay afloat in a place that is going nowhere fast are gripping and both depressing and exhilarating. It is one of the best portraits of characters that suffer financial hardships and problems of the soul that I have ever read. Classic Kersh.

[Ron F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute masterpiece and arguably Kersh’s very best novel.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine novel from Kersh, well constructed and executed. Harry Fabian, from 'Night and the City' appears here as 'American Harry', a two-timing chiseling scoundrel you can't trust with nothing - but the bulk of the story revolves around well-meaning saps and hopeless romantics getting swindled by lousy swindlers. Do they make it out OK in the end, and do the chancers and chiselers get what they deserve? Another hell of a goddamn novel, like a double shot of whiskey quickly followed by a slap in the face. Kersh brings it rough, rugged and raw. You're an adult and you're ready to face the truth.