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The implacable hunter
'[This] is the story of the beginning and the end of St Paul, that most complicated and worrying of all the saints. The narrator is Diomed, a colonial officer stationed at Tarsus, enlightened, intelligent, a great fraterniser with the patrician natives, [who] sends the strange young Jew to persecute the Nazarenes... [Kersh brings] a highly concentrated area of Roman colonial history to very real life - the ornate wine-cup, the crapulous cold fruit-juice at dawn, dust on a sandal... King Jesus is here, all the time... the fly-itch nuisance to the Empire that wakes its prefects up in nightmare... This is a masterly book, full of live people and a live age, live language, too... We may adjudge Mr Kersh, after reading The Implaccable Hunter, to be now at the height of his powers.'Anthony Burgess, Yorkshire Post, 1961
205 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
42 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Kersh
109 books62 followersGerald 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.)
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.)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 16, 2013
I have only recently discovered the wonderful world of Gerald Kersh. Prior to this book I had only read two others, The Angel and the Cuckoo, and Fowlers End, both are filled with numerous colourful and distinctive characters, and some wonderful dialogue. Writer Paul Duncan, who is writing a biography of Gerald Kersh, stated "I have learnt there is a sizeable number of people who think that they are the only ones who read Kersh. You can always spot a Kersh reader - they have this inner light, this twinkle in their eye, that says 'If only you knew what I know.' They know about Kersh. It's their secret. The world is foolish and chooses to ignore him. Bad luck for the world. Good luck for us." Is that now changing? Perhaps there is a revival underway...
The Implacable Hunter is one of six titles that were republished by the wonderful Faber Finds imprint in October 2013 and November 2013. The others are The Best of Gerald Kersh, Sergeant Nelson of the Guards, The Horrible Dummy and Other Stories, The Song of the Flea, The Thousand Deaths of Mr Small, and this one, The Implacable Hunter. According to the London Books website, they will be republishing Prelude to a Certain Midnight too. Nightshade & Damnations was republished in April 2013 by Valancourt Books in the UK. Truly there are heady days for the Gerald Kersh cognoscenti. I hope his readers will expand with so many of his books being republished.
Unlike the other two books I have read by Gerald Kersh, The Implacable Hunter is not set in twentieth century London. Indeed it couldn't be further removed from that milieu. In this book Kersh attempts to gain a psychogical insight into the new testament figure of Saint Paul by reimagining his early years as Saul of Tarsus, the scourge of many Christians. The story is narrated by Diomed, a colonial Roman officer stationed at Tarsus, who becomes an increasingly worried friend and mentor to Saul.
Unlike my previous two books by Gerald Kersh, I found this book something of a struggle, and for that reason I would not recommend it to the first time reader. I was glad I stuck with it but ultimately was less enamoured by this book than the others I have read. That said, if you are interested in, or excited by, a vivid reimagining of Saint Paul's early years, then you will probably find much to love in this book. Anthony Burgess, in a 1961 review for the Yorkshire Post, was very fulsome in his praise. Either way, I would urge you to investigate Gerald Kersh and help the long overdue revival gain pace. 3/5
The Implacable Hunter is one of six titles that were republished by the wonderful Faber Finds imprint in October 2013 and November 2013. The others are The Best of Gerald Kersh, Sergeant Nelson of the Guards, The Horrible Dummy and Other Stories, The Song of the Flea, The Thousand Deaths of Mr Small, and this one, The Implacable Hunter. According to the London Books website, they will be republishing Prelude to a Certain Midnight too. Nightshade & Damnations was republished in April 2013 by Valancourt Books in the UK. Truly there are heady days for the Gerald Kersh cognoscenti. I hope his readers will expand with so many of his books being republished.
Unlike the other two books I have read by Gerald Kersh, The Implacable Hunter is not set in twentieth century London. Indeed it couldn't be further removed from that milieu. In this book Kersh attempts to gain a psychogical insight into the new testament figure of Saint Paul by reimagining his early years as Saul of Tarsus, the scourge of many Christians. The story is narrated by Diomed, a colonial Roman officer stationed at Tarsus, who becomes an increasingly worried friend and mentor to Saul.
Unlike my previous two books by Gerald Kersh, I found this book something of a struggle, and for that reason I would not recommend it to the first time reader. I was glad I stuck with it but ultimately was less enamoured by this book than the others I have read. That said, if you are interested in, or excited by, a vivid reimagining of Saint Paul's early years, then you will probably find much to love in this book. Anthony Burgess, in a 1961 review for the Yorkshire Post, was very fulsome in his praise. Either way, I would urge you to investigate Gerald Kersh and help the long overdue revival gain pace. 3/5
Read
January 28, 2024An amazing book and I have read it a number of times as an ardent follower of Gerald Kersh ( and Christ).
I have first editions of all of Gerald Kersh’s books including, Jew Without Jehovah, except for Night and the City where I only have an American first edition.
If anyone had a copy of the original publication please contact me.
I have first editions of all of Gerald Kersh’s books including, Jew Without Jehovah, except for Night and the City where I only have an American first edition.
If anyone had a copy of the original publication please contact me.
Want to read
October 22, 2024A third in. Will return when in the mood. Reminds me of Robert Graves' tone evoking Romanitas.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews