Strange Fugitive

by Morley Callaghan, James Dubro

Originally published in New York in 1928, this book announced the coming of the urban novel in Canada through the story of Harry Trotter—a “hero” who cannot escape his tendancy toward brutality. Incapable of reflection, he does not realize that he has become a thug, believing instead that if he feels good, things must be right.

Genres: Canada, Classics

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Edward Morley Callaghan was a Canadian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and TV and radio personality.

Reviews

[Ele Pawelski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it's a Canadian classic and also takes place in prohibition times in The Ward, the poor downtown area of Toronto that was razed to make room for new City Hall in the 1950s/1960s, which is where one of my next novels will be set.

Loved the last 10-12 pages, especially the last sentence. Otherwise, besides the dated language (which actually adds charm) I found it hard to believe how easy decisions and new directions were for the main character. Not as much description of living conditions as I would have liked.

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it very interesting to read a crime novel set in 1920's Toronto, that was actually written in 1920's Toronto. The story itself was very basic. A man gets greedy and meets with tragedy. Morley Callaghan gets points for being one of the first authors to come up with the hard-boiled crime novel.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I searched this book out after reading a bio on Max Perkins, the editor for Hemingway and Fitzgerald and so many others. It was told of the author of this book, Morley Callaghan, a writer for Toronto Star at the time, that he won a boxing match with Hemingway while they were in Montparnasse together. It was also said that Callaghan was the first to write the hardboiled crime novel that later became so popular. He wrote this story of Harry Trotter, a French Canadian in Toronto, as one who got caught up in the world of bootlegging. I am especially interested in this period of history, and this is about a man of Catholic upbringing spontaneously combusting during the 1920s.

This novel was Callaghan's first, and it was only later that he had Max Perkins as his editor, so I was not disappointed to find that there was less professional editing that showed the author's raw talent and ability to flow through the story, almost like an eyewitness to the inner working of his protagonist's mind. Callaghan's later works and programs are more polished and win awards.

I was looking for this exact thing because I wanted to kind of hear the style of speech during that day and listen to the jokes and the insults and mannerisms of that time. The descriptions of clothes, the transportation, and the sheer moxy required to get around in this world was also there as we follow this man's desire to acquire status.

If you are interested in history or the early days of Morley Callaghan's career, this is the book for you.

It is also an interesting story of a bootlegger, but as it is a contemporary story of its own time written in 1928 before the actual Depression, it is not as detailed in sex and violence as the crime novels that one has available to read today.

I hope you have the opportunity to read this classic and enjoy it as I did.

[George Demetrion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Quick and Fun Read

I bought this book on Kindle for $. 99 fter reading Callaghan's short story, "All the Days of Her Life" with one of my adult basic education students. Strange Fugitive was quite unlike Callaghan''s other work, but as a crime novel, it read well and I was able to read through its 245 pages in a short period of time. It's definitely worth your time if you like thus type of book or would like to read an early version (written in 1929) of Callaghan's fiction.

[Hermano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic book that launched the gangster genre in North America. A good story the delves into the life of a man who wants it all and loses it all.