Conversations With Nelson Algren

by H.E.F. Donohue

This book explores with unequivocal candor and great natural humor Nelson Algren’s life, work and opinions. The life encompasses, to a Swedish grandfather who converted to Judaism, an hours-long “un-meeting” with James Baldwin, and a joyously memorable introduction to Simone de Beavoir. The work, of course, Hemingway and others consider to be some of the best done in America in the last thirty years (The Man With The Golden Arm, Walk On the Wild Side, etc.), And the opinions, the very personal, frank, and the figures decorating the American scene, and the figures decorating (or in some cases, just dotting) the landscape. The following from the author’s “He (Algren) shunts aside all rules, regulations, and dicta, except for three laws that he says a nice little old Negro lady once taught Never play cards with any man named Doc. Never eat at any place called Mom’s. And never, ever, no matter what else you do in your whole life, never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own.”

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 1965