A Year or So With Edgar

by George V. Higgins

First edition, First printing. With corresponding number line. Book is in Near Fine condition. Boards are clean, not bumped. Fore edges have a tiny bit of shelf wear. Interior is clean and legible. Not remaindered. Dust Jacket is in Very Good condition. Tiny chip to the edge. Not price clipped. Is covered by Mylar Brodart. All-ways well boxed All-ways fast service. Thanks.

Genres: Fiction

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

George Vincent Higgins was a United States author, lawyer, newspaper columnist, and college professor. He is best known for his bestselling crime novels.

Reviews

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading Higgins books in chronological order. For one so popular during his time, his books are very difficult to locate, and at least two-thirds of what I acquire will be through interlibrary loans. I've also had to load a lot of photographs for the books on GoodReads, and as I do, I try to include a picture of the author at that time, since even early photographs of Higgins are scare.

I would say I am one-thirds through this little project of mine, and I'm in a series where the books occur predominantly between Boston and D.C. with forays into New York or the Cape and Islands. They are almost purely dialogue, which he excels at, but you need some plot to flesh things out. I am also weary of this focus on the law (where he gets bogged down in legalise) and family dynamic and failing marriages and adultery and ignored children and on and on. So far, I think the two strongest Higgins books I have read were "The Friends of Eddie Coyle," and "Cogan's Trade." Both books focus on the pinnings of the underworld, and he is a master of that.

It seems obvious, that Higgins had a genuine passion for law and politics. You have to wonder how he would have grown in skill had he survived.

[Jeremy Hornik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of divorces among white Washington DC lawyers of the 1970s. Jumps up past the subject matter by creating its drama through dialogue, or more accurately, since it’s Higgins, monologue-with-a-listener. Some fine bon mots, some interesting stuff about lawyering in Washington, some very bad Irish Catholic marriages, and plenty of screwing around. I enjoyed it.

[Tomasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

While definitely not the best GVH I've had the pleasure of reading, it is by far not the worst, either. There are moments when the ball gets dropped, sure, but it always is picked up almost immediately, and the play is on. I'll never have enough of GVH dialogue, not gonna happen.
(Also, hey, I snagged a signed copy, yay me!)

[Ben Brackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

All his books are pretty good enjoyable reads, but I prefer his crime novels.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sixth GVH novel and the most frustrating, plotless one so far. But there's enough humor and warmth between the two lead characters to keep you reading.