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Handsome Harry
Harry Pierpont and John Dillinger were die-hard and deadly partners who made national headlines with their daring bank hold-ups and gun battles -- and they had a lot of laughs while they were at it. They were known as the Dillinger Gang but at its heart was "Handsome Harry" Pierpont -- tough, fearless, intelligent, and sworn to live by no law but his own. Presented as his intimate "confessions," Harry's story takes us from his teenage days as a small-time crook to his fateful meeting with the equally young Dillinger to the pinnacle of his notoriety, and to his final hours in the penitentiary death house.
Crafted in James Carlos Blake's signature style of fast-paced violence, sizzling sex, and darkly raucous humor, Handsome Harry re-creates a thrilling chapter from the chronicles of American crime.
Crafted in James Carlos Blake's signature style of fast-paced violence, sizzling sex, and darkly raucous humor, Handsome Harry re-creates a thrilling chapter from the chronicles of American crime.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
36 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
James Carlos Blake
22 books213 followersJames Carlos Blake was an American writer of novels, novellas, short stories, and essays. His work has received extensive critical favor and several notable awards. He has been called “one of the greatest chroniclers of the mythical American outlaw life” as well as “one of the most original writers in America today and … certainly one of the bravest.” He was a recipient of the University of South Florida's Distinguished Humanities Alumnus Award and a member of the Texas Institute of Letters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 14, 2012
Really cool story about Harry Pierpont, Dillinger's main man. Blake establishes, pretty clearly, that the gang was more of a joint effort, with Dillinger and Pierpont almost always on the same page when decisions were made. They were friends, and both put a high premium on loyalty. Given the criminal soup of both prison and the murky underworld of bank robbing, that's pretty amazing. Oh, there's backstabbing and betrayals, just not from these two. Blake portrays Pierpont as being tough as nails. (His numerous trips to the prison "hole" are practically superhuman displays of defiance toward the Man.) But he's never so hard that he can't be a good guy to his girl, his mother, or his friends. But when faced with the Law, his hate of it was implacable. This hatred is the one thread that is common with the gang members, and much of the underground world in which they move.
For about 3/4 of the book, I was hooked. Blake has a great ear for period dialogue and setting. And Blake can do violence with the best of them (Cormac McCarthy, James Ellroy). This is a crime novel, but it's probably more accurate to call it a historical novel. At least it would become that over time. As the book raced toward its end, I couldn't help but feel that Blake was following closely, perhaps too closely, the Pierpont and Dillinger chronology of crime. It's like some of the spell was lost. But you can't beat the ending, which is as noir as it gets. Pierpont, shot to pieces due to an escape attempt (the book opens with this fact, so I'm not giving anything away), is carried, due to his wounds, to the electric chair. As Pierpont himself puts it: "Woooooooo..."
For about 3/4 of the book, I was hooked. Blake has a great ear for period dialogue and setting. And Blake can do violence with the best of them (Cormac McCarthy, James Ellroy). This is a crime novel, but it's probably more accurate to call it a historical novel. At least it would become that over time. As the book raced toward its end, I couldn't help but feel that Blake was following closely, perhaps too closely, the Pierpont and Dillinger chronology of crime. It's like some of the spell was lost. But you can't beat the ending, which is as noir as it gets. Pierpont, shot to pieces due to an escape attempt (the book opens with this fact, so I'm not giving anything away), is carried, due to his wounds, to the electric chair. As Pierpont himself puts it: "Woooooooo..."
April 18, 2022
By using a real life story that is already a once on a lifetime four month stretch of luck and excitement, Blake only had to add a narrator that works as a self insert for the reader and he was gonna come out with something entertaining at least. And if you make it past the halfway point it's a very fun story indeed filled with excess, violence, car chases, shoot outs and beautiful women who are more than simply beautiful women. The book takes a hardline stance on the notion that the real crooks are the politicians/bankers/CEOs et. al. and the Dillinger Gang were bandits bold enough to take what they wanted and refused to bow down to the system.
I liked the majority of the supporting characters, but besides Dillinger and Mary, they were all pretty much handed a very noticeable character trait to tell them apart. It's simple and effective. What I found most entertaining was their interpersonal dramas when they sprang up or when they would jibe each other because it felt the most realistic or anecdotal. The dialogue is snappy and some of it brought a smile to my face. Easily the best bit is when the guys are talking about women and the story of Oedipus.
The plot drags its feet for a while setting up Harry, who is of course written as an all guys respect him/want to be him, all women want to be with him self insert who prides himself on a having a giant penis and being the real leader of the Dillinger gang but constantly says he doesn't care if he was anyway, so anyone with any understanding of a loudmouths in general knows that is complete bull. But Harry again is simply a passive narrator/windbag whose future plans include shopping for nice suits and waiting until the next blonde blushes at him. He won't take guff from nobody and he'll fight like a demon but it's the only option in his playbook. Then again there's not supposed to be a lot in Harry's head so there is enough room for the reader to climb in and watch what he does next.
My biggest gripe that holds this book back and that is how A) the book starts at the end and flashes back and B) even after doing A the narrator is constantly stating when and how things are going to go bad and who is responsible. Talk about letting the tires down when it starts getting good. Either Blake or his editors must think readers are idiots if we can't keep up with such a straightforward plot. At least try to surprise me with a twist or out of nowhere turn of fate. That and the pre prison break section was a bit too long, there was no reason Harry couldn't have had a bit of a wilder life before joining Dillinger. You're allowed to do whatever you want in historical fiction before you get to the history part.
It's a shiny new Terraplane, but it's full of bullet holes.
I liked the majority of the supporting characters, but besides Dillinger and Mary, they were all pretty much handed a very noticeable character trait to tell them apart. It's simple and effective. What I found most entertaining was their interpersonal dramas when they sprang up or when they would jibe each other because it felt the most realistic or anecdotal. The dialogue is snappy and some of it brought a smile to my face. Easily the best bit is when the guys are talking about women and the story of Oedipus.
The plot drags its feet for a while setting up Harry, who is of course written as an all guys respect him/want to be him, all women want to be with him self insert who prides himself on a having a giant penis and being the real leader of the Dillinger gang but constantly says he doesn't care if he was anyway, so anyone with any understanding of a loudmouths in general knows that is complete bull. But Harry again is simply a passive narrator/windbag whose future plans include shopping for nice suits and waiting until the next blonde blushes at him. He won't take guff from nobody and he'll fight like a demon but it's the only option in his playbook. Then again there's not supposed to be a lot in Harry's head so there is enough room for the reader to climb in and watch what he does next.
My biggest gripe that holds this book back and that is how A) the book starts at the end and flashes back and B) even after doing A the narrator is constantly stating when and how things are going to go bad and who is responsible. Talk about letting the tires down when it starts getting good. Either Blake or his editors must think readers are idiots if we can't keep up with such a straightforward plot. At least try to surprise me with a twist or out of nowhere turn of fate. That and the pre prison break section was a bit too long, there was no reason Harry couldn't have had a bit of a wilder life before joining Dillinger. You're allowed to do whatever you want in historical fiction before you get to the history part.
It's a shiny new Terraplane, but it's full of bullet holes.
September 9, 2013
This story is about the 1930’s infamous Dillinger gang as narrated by one of his best criminal gang members Harry Pierpont. Harry seemed to be a very intelligent bank robber. He planned and executed quite a few successful robberies. He also brilliantly escaped the Michigan City, Indiana prison by making a home- made key. While serving a Death Row sentence he failed to escape prison using phony weapons made out of prison soap.
Harry was a great street fighter too. He was respected in prison for his ability to withstand pain and imperviousness to isolation in the hole. He should have tried professional boxing. Boxing was a lucrative occupation during the Depression era 1930's.
All of Harry’s thoughts were vividly displayed in the author’s writings. It is interesting that he based the story out of one of the more relatively unknown characters of the gang.
Harry was a great street fighter too. He was respected in prison for his ability to withstand pain and imperviousness to isolation in the hole. He should have tried professional boxing. Boxing was a lucrative occupation during the Depression era 1930's.
All of Harry’s thoughts were vividly displayed in the author’s writings. It is interesting that he based the story out of one of the more relatively unknown characters of the gang.
August 16, 2021
For four months, Harry Pierpont went on a crime spree with John Dillinger and other members of Dillinger's notorious gang. Four months, prior to which "Handsome" Harry was serving time in the Michigan City state prison in Indiana. Busting out of that pen, Harry brought his organizing skills to the use of Dillinger until all were captured in Arizona. Dillinger, of course, escaped again, only to be gunned down by police in Chicago. Harry and one of his confederates, Charles Makley went on trial and were sentenced to the electric chair. Makley and Harry tried another breakout. But Makley was killed and Harry severely injured. Eventually, Handsome Harry made it to the electric chair and the Dillinger gang was no more.
That is the history James Carlos Blake covers in the novel, viewing things from the perspective of Handsome Harry Pierpont. To be honest, it is a bit of a disappointment. Blake makes Harry out to be just like all the rest of Blake's heroes and protagonists. Supposedly, they are all supermen with the IQs of theoretical physicists who just prefer a life of crime and the kick it gives them. The fact that the only thing they can discuss is killing, eating, and sex should not dissuade you from appreciating their innate genius. Fact is, Blake could probably do away with 75 to 100 pages of this novel if he simply didn't discuss penises and erections in such detail. The final effect is to make Harry and the rest of the crims, to me, look like people with no more than an elemental response to life. No introspection. But a lot of innuendo and low grade humor you might expect from a 15 year old.
Maybe it's something to do with the setting. As I said, all Blake's protagonists seem to be the same in novel after novel. But they don't appear insignificant when Blake puts them against the background of the Texas frontier, Mexico, the American Civil War, or the epic storyline of his Wolfe family novels. Here, however, my reaction is like that of his Florida crime novel, Red Grass River, or his story about redneck prisoners on the loose in A World of Thieves. You just end up not caring too much about anybody at the end.
That is the history James Carlos Blake covers in the novel, viewing things from the perspective of Handsome Harry Pierpont. To be honest, it is a bit of a disappointment. Blake makes Harry out to be just like all the rest of Blake's heroes and protagonists. Supposedly, they are all supermen with the IQs of theoretical physicists who just prefer a life of crime and the kick it gives them. The fact that the only thing they can discuss is killing, eating, and sex should not dissuade you from appreciating their innate genius. Fact is, Blake could probably do away with 75 to 100 pages of this novel if he simply didn't discuss penises and erections in such detail. The final effect is to make Harry and the rest of the crims, to me, look like people with no more than an elemental response to life. No introspection. But a lot of innuendo and low grade humor you might expect from a 15 year old.
Maybe it's something to do with the setting. As I said, all Blake's protagonists seem to be the same in novel after novel. But they don't appear insignificant when Blake puts them against the background of the Texas frontier, Mexico, the American Civil War, or the epic storyline of his Wolfe family novels. Here, however, my reaction is like that of his Florida crime novel, Red Grass River, or his story about redneck prisoners on the loose in A World of Thieves. You just end up not caring too much about anybody at the end.
January 4, 2023
3.5⭐
En lisant ce livre les images des Brigades du Tigre et de Point Break avec ses Ex-presidents me sont apparues !
Une histoire, de bandits, de belles voitures, de soirées folles ...
Inspiré de faits réels!
En lisant ce livre les images des Brigades du Tigre et de Point Break avec ses Ex-presidents me sont apparues !
Une histoire, de bandits, de belles voitures, de soirées folles ...
Inspiré de faits réels!
November 10, 2007
This is a Chicago 1930's era crime novel, gritty, violent & excellent. James Carlos Blake is one of my very favorites. I'm sure I'm not the demographic for this book, but I don't care. He is simply a master storyteller. Really this is 4.5 stars.
January 23, 2019
Handsome Harry : confessions d'un gangster. – de James Carlos Blake, traduit par Emmanuel Pailler, chez Gallmeister (2019)
Harry Pierpont, ou Handsome Harry, est sur le point de passer sur la chaise électrique. Membre actif du gang de John Dillinger, il est arrêté pour la dernière fois en octobre 1934.
Avant de passer sur la chaise, Harry refait le film de sa carrière de gangster, articulé en quatre périodes : « en taule », « en cavale », « en bordée », « en déroute ». Son récit riche en détails permet au lecteur de visualiser les scènes : on est dans un film sur l'époque de la prohibition, où les costumes sur mesure du bel Harry et les belles voitures du gang tranchent sur la misère ambiante. D'ailleurs, le roman traduit bien l'état d'esprit des victimes de la grande dépression : les pauvres ont plus de respect et d'empathie pour les pilleurs de banques que pour les banquiers. On retrouve totalement l'esprit du Bonnie and Clyde d'Arthur Penn. C'est surtout sur la gente féminine que la fascination pour les gangsters s'exerce ; la compagne de John Dillinger et celle de Harry, la tendre Mary, n'hésitent pas à suivre leurs amoureux malgré l'avenir incertain.
James Carlos Blake ne cache pas non plus sa fascination pour les hors-la-loi, et livre avec Harry Pierpont le portrait d'un bandit intelligent, véritable leader du gang mais qui préfère rester loin des flashes, très épris de liberté, violent mais agissant selon son propre code d'honneur. Il sait communiquer aux lecteurs et lectrices (surtout !) le pouvoir de séduction de Handsome Harry. Même si l'on connait à l'avance que la fin sera tragique pour Harry, il est difficile de lâcher le roman, tant le rythme des aventures de ce héros charismatique est trépidant. L'écriture est aussi élégante que les costumes du bel Harry, grâce au beau travail de traduction de Dominique Pailler.
Je ne connaissais de ce gang que le nom de Dillinger et ai été enchantée de faire la connaissance du bel Harry. Merci à James Carlos Blake de lui rendre sa juste place dans ce roman qui, selon lui, « se préoccupe moins des faits que de la vérité ».
Un grand merci à Léa du #PicaboRiverBookClub et aux éditions Gallmeister de m'avoir fait démarrer l'année en beauté avec Handsome Harry !
Harry Pierpont, ou Handsome Harry, est sur le point de passer sur la chaise électrique. Membre actif du gang de John Dillinger, il est arrêté pour la dernière fois en octobre 1934.
Avant de passer sur la chaise, Harry refait le film de sa carrière de gangster, articulé en quatre périodes : « en taule », « en cavale », « en bordée », « en déroute ». Son récit riche en détails permet au lecteur de visualiser les scènes : on est dans un film sur l'époque de la prohibition, où les costumes sur mesure du bel Harry et les belles voitures du gang tranchent sur la misère ambiante. D'ailleurs, le roman traduit bien l'état d'esprit des victimes de la grande dépression : les pauvres ont plus de respect et d'empathie pour les pilleurs de banques que pour les banquiers. On retrouve totalement l'esprit du Bonnie and Clyde d'Arthur Penn. C'est surtout sur la gente féminine que la fascination pour les gangsters s'exerce ; la compagne de John Dillinger et celle de Harry, la tendre Mary, n'hésitent pas à suivre leurs amoureux malgré l'avenir incertain.
James Carlos Blake ne cache pas non plus sa fascination pour les hors-la-loi, et livre avec Harry Pierpont le portrait d'un bandit intelligent, véritable leader du gang mais qui préfère rester loin des flashes, très épris de liberté, violent mais agissant selon son propre code d'honneur. Il sait communiquer aux lecteurs et lectrices (surtout !) le pouvoir de séduction de Handsome Harry. Même si l'on connait à l'avance que la fin sera tragique pour Harry, il est difficile de lâcher le roman, tant le rythme des aventures de ce héros charismatique est trépidant. L'écriture est aussi élégante que les costumes du bel Harry, grâce au beau travail de traduction de Dominique Pailler.
Je ne connaissais de ce gang que le nom de Dillinger et ai été enchantée de faire la connaissance du bel Harry. Merci à James Carlos Blake de lui rendre sa juste place dans ce roman qui, selon lui, « se préoccupe moins des faits que de la vérité ».
Un grand merci à Léa du #PicaboRiverBookClub et aux éditions Gallmeister de m'avoir fait démarrer l'année en beauté avec Handsome Harry !
October 30, 2023
3,5/5
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Handsome Harry ?
"Une histoire de gangsters plus une couverture Gallmeister canon, il n'en fallait pas plus pour me faire craquer. Mais quand en plus les copines le conseillent, toute résistance s'avère inutile."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"L'histoire de Harry Pierpont, membre du célèbre gang Dillinger, peut-être même son réel chef, et d'une époque où les gens préféraient encore les braqueurs aux banquiers. Mais est-ce que ça a vraiment changé ?"
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"J'aime beaucoup les histoires de gangsters, c'est mon petit côté 'rebelle de salons'. J'aime d'autant plus lorsque l'histoire se basent sur une histoire vraie et nous propose un angle un peu différent de ce qui peut se faire d'habitude, en faisant parler ici Harry, plutôt que d'adopter le point de vue du bien plus populaire John Dillinger. J'ai aussi aimé l'écriture crue et incisive de l'auteur, même si je me serais bien passée de certains détails, mais ce genre de plume, sans mauvais jeu de mots, c'est à double tranchant. J'ai trouvé que ça nous tenait vraiment à distance des protagonistes. Difficile d'éprouver beaucoup d'empathie pour les héros, ou même de l'excitation à chaque nouveau casse, les descriptions sont trop propres, trop cliniques. J'ai quand même apprécié ce récit mais c'est vraiment l'élément qui m'a manqué pour entrer complètement dans l'histoire."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Ça s'arrange sur la fin et à chaque page tournée, la tension monte un peu, d'autant qu'on sait très bien comment tout ça va se terminer et qu'on ne peut s'empêche d'espérer, en vain."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Handsome Harry ?
"Une histoire de gangsters plus une couverture Gallmeister canon, il n'en fallait pas plus pour me faire craquer. Mais quand en plus les copines le conseillent, toute résistance s'avère inutile."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"L'histoire de Harry Pierpont, membre du célèbre gang Dillinger, peut-être même son réel chef, et d'une époque où les gens préféraient encore les braqueurs aux banquiers. Mais est-ce que ça a vraiment changé ?"
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"J'aime beaucoup les histoires de gangsters, c'est mon petit côté 'rebelle de salons'. J'aime d'autant plus lorsque l'histoire se basent sur une histoire vraie et nous propose un angle un peu différent de ce qui peut se faire d'habitude, en faisant parler ici Harry, plutôt que d'adopter le point de vue du bien plus populaire John Dillinger. J'ai aussi aimé l'écriture crue et incisive de l'auteur, même si je me serais bien passée de certains détails, mais ce genre de plume, sans mauvais jeu de mots, c'est à double tranchant. J'ai trouvé que ça nous tenait vraiment à distance des protagonistes. Difficile d'éprouver beaucoup d'empathie pour les héros, ou même de l'excitation à chaque nouveau casse, les descriptions sont trop propres, trop cliniques. J'ai quand même apprécié ce récit mais c'est vraiment l'élément qui m'a manqué pour entrer complètement dans l'histoire."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Ça s'arrange sur la fin et à chaque page tournée, la tension monte un peu, d'autant qu'on sait très bien comment tout ça va se terminer et qu'on ne peut s'empêche d'espérer, en vain."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
February 19, 2025
Good Second Time Too
I'm no criminal, but I've known a few in my time. I can tell you that Crime Doesn't Pay.
All these poor, stupid thrill-seekers can do is cry about how The Real Criminals are the Banks, etc. -- after they get caught.
Funny thing about Thrill Seekers, it's all "Devil Take the Hindmost" till their hang-glider crashes. Then it's all "Why Doesn't the Government Do Something?" -- in other words, they suddenly become Canadians.
(In case this last remark seems cryptic, I can tell you from long experience that within seconds of the first hint of something going wrong a Canadian will yowl for Government Intervention. Never fails. 100%.
And you hippies say "People are People Wherever You Go". BS. As usual, you hippies don't know shit.)
Wow!
95% bank robberies + 5% killings.
What are the deliverables?
Well, that depends on your wheelhouse. I can say that Harry is the Uber of bank robbers. But ALL the stakeholders are infused with a lot of the granular, curated, weapons-grade, weapon-pairing of those uncertain times.
I might circle back later, it's too easy to praise this book -- like shooting barrels in a fish.
Stay Safe!
I'm no criminal, but I've known a few in my time. I can tell you that Crime Doesn't Pay.
All these poor, stupid thrill-seekers can do is cry about how The Real Criminals are the Banks, etc. -- after they get caught.
Funny thing about Thrill Seekers, it's all "Devil Take the Hindmost" till their hang-glider crashes. Then it's all "Why Doesn't the Government Do Something?" -- in other words, they suddenly become Canadians.
(In case this last remark seems cryptic, I can tell you from long experience that within seconds of the first hint of something going wrong a Canadian will yowl for Government Intervention. Never fails. 100%.
And you hippies say "People are People Wherever You Go". BS. As usual, you hippies don't know shit.)
Wow!
95% bank robberies + 5% killings.
What are the deliverables?
Well, that depends on your wheelhouse. I can say that Harry is the Uber of bank robbers. But ALL the stakeholders are infused with a lot of the granular, curated, weapons-grade, weapon-pairing of those uncertain times.
I might circle back later, it's too easy to praise this book -- like shooting barrels in a fish.
Stay Safe!
September 3, 2021
Historical fiction based on the actual exploits of Harry Pierpont, who embarked on a life of crime with his own code of honor, never giving in to 'the man,' even during a lengthy prison sentence with lots of time spent 'in the hole.' During that time he met John Dillinger, who he schooled in bank heists. When John got out he got to work robbing banks to help fund their escape- a daring jail break, quickly followed by their even more daring move to break him out of a local police station. The gang committed many robberies with big payouts, including raids on police stations for bullet proof vests and better weapons, and took time to enjoy life together before ultimately being captured (in Harry's case) or gunned down (in the legendary movie theater shootout for Dillinger.) It ends, as real life did, with
June 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action and it felt like watching a movie. Even though the main character, Handsome Harry, is a criminal, it's easy to relate to him and to like his personality. I also really enjoyed the main relationship, because in comparison to the other ones in the novel or others from that time period it was really romantic and respectful.
October 12, 2023
Never a dull moment!!
This read will have you turning the pages faster than you can read! There's not a dull page in the entire book. There is comedy, twist and turns and serious time throughout the read.
If you want entertainment in reading then don't pass this novel up!! And it gives you a glimpse at what the Dill inter was all about, with Handsome Harry doing the talking.
This read will have you turning the pages faster than you can read! There's not a dull page in the entire book. There is comedy, twist and turns and serious time throughout the read.
If you want entertainment in reading then don't pass this novel up!! And it gives you a glimpse at what the Dill inter was all about, with Handsome Harry doing the talking.
March 18, 2020
Bank robber story during the Great Depression in the Midwest. Some fun moments here, but not Blake's best effort. The language is easy going and the characters interesting, but the story runs out of gas about halfway through and becomes predictable.
August 24, 2025
Not up there with a couple of other JCB favorites.
Was pretty slow, details of daily, mundane things drag it out.
I usually fall pretty hard for the rogues and [heroic] villians in Blake's novels, but Harry didn't really do it for me.
Was pretty slow, details of daily, mundane things drag it out.
I usually fall pretty hard for the rogues and [heroic] villians in Blake's novels, but Harry didn't really do it for me.
July 31, 2018
Great writing and a fascinating subject but even so, I can't really get into books with a protagonist I don't want to succeed.
February 28, 2019
decent enough. not too gripping, but not a bad time pass.
June 2, 2019
Lu en moins de deux jours. Absolument passionnant.
March 1, 2022
Mostly unlikeable characters stay unlikeable through the end.
The End.
The End.
January 24, 2026
"Shoulda, woulda, coulda...What could've happened did."
August 27, 2019
John Dillinger… Tout de suite on voit la jolie petite gueule de Johnny Deep dans le film "Public Ennemies"… Sexy baby !
Et bien, oubliez-le car ici, ce n'est pas le grand Dillinger qui est mis sous les feux des projecteurs mais "Handsome Harry" Pierpont et croyez-moi, après cette lecture, vous vous direz qu'il n'a pas eu les honneurs qu'il méritait !
Ce n'est pas très moral de dire ça en parlant de gangsters, de pilleurs de banque, de braqueurs de drugstores, armés et dangereux.
Ça ne rigolait pas avec eux et ils ont laissé des corps froids sur leur passage. Mais les flics aussi parce que dans le genre « je ne sais pas bien tirer », les flics étaient les champions et se sont même tués entre eux… C'est ballot, ça !
L'auteur, à la manière dont il nous met en scène les membres de la bande, arrive à dégager de l'empathie, de la sympathie pour ces braqueurs qui purgent de lourdes peines de prisons et qui, tels les Dalton, cherchent un moyen de s'évader.
Harry Pierpont est le narrateur de cette histoire dont nous aurons déjà le compte-rendu du final dès le départ. de toute façon, pour qui connait un peu l'Histoire des gangsters américains et celle de Dillinger, pas de surprise. Tout le monde sait comment ça se termina.
Les braqueurs de banque, dans les années 30, avaient la cote auprès du public, je parle bien entendu des petites gens, de l'Amérique d'en-bas, de celle qui fut durement touchée par la Dépression et qui n'était pas contre le fait qu'on vole des voleurs qui les avaient volés.
Parce que pour ceux qui ne le sauraient pas encore, les banquiers ne sont pas des honnêtes gens, loin de là, ce sont des voleurs eux aussi, juste qu'ils sont bien habillés et qu'ils ne nous mettent pas un flingue sur la tempe pour prendre notre fric, ils sont bien plus subtils que ça. Mais nombre d'entre eux avaient magouillé leurs comptes et un braquage permettait de tout remettre à jour.
Alors oui, l'auteur a réussi à me faire apprécier des gangsters, à souhaiter qu'ils s'échappent de prison et j'ai croisé les doigts pour qu'ils n'y retournent pas, mais contre la Vérité Historique, je ne peux rien et nous n'étions pas dans une dystopie.
Ses personnages sont bien campés, réussis, et on a tout de suite de la sympathie pour Handsome Harry, on a envie de saluer son intelligence, moins sa violence quand il abat de sang-froid, mais en tout cas, on en apprend un peu plus sur la bande de Dillinger, même si personne ne sait toute la vérité puisque les faits divergent et les témoins ne sont pas fidèles.
La seule chose que je n'ai pas trop aimé c'est la manière dont sont présentés les dialogues que l'auteur a englobé dans le texte narratif. Au début, ça passe, mais à la fin, ça devenait lourd et donnait au texte l'impression qu'il avait été écrit par un débutant alors que nous sommes tout de même face à James Carlos Blake.
Hormis ce petit bémol, tout le reste passe comme dans du beurre, on découvre les fake news de l'époque avec des journalistes prêts à raconter n'importe quoi pour vendre leurs feuilles de choux, on parle de politiciens véreux, des gardiens de prison corruptibles, des balances, de l'amitié, de la fraternité et on vit les poursuites à du 100 à l'heure parce que dans les années 30, ce n'étaient pas les bolides de Fast and Furious mais elles avaient encore des marche-pieds pratiques pour mettre les otages.
Si vous voulez faire un tour dans l'univers carcéral des États-Unis des années 30, vous prendre un peu de la grande Dépression dans la gueule, voir la prohibition se terminer et boire à sa santé, braquer des banques, vous décoiffer la permanente en roulant à 100 à l'heure dans les rues de Chicago (ou dans une autre ville), prendre du bon temps en Floride, baiser avec des mauvais garçons ou vous évader de manière brillante, ma foi, ce livre est fait pour vous.
Si vous avez tendance à être pour la Loi et de son côté, ou banquier, vous risquez de grincer des dents lors de la lecture, surtout devant les réponses de Handsome Harry devant les juges.
Dommage pour les dialogues insérés dans le texte, sans cela, j'aurais mieux aimé la présentation du texte et je l'aurais trouvé moins laborieux, moins lourd à certains moments.
Et bien, oubliez-le car ici, ce n'est pas le grand Dillinger qui est mis sous les feux des projecteurs mais "Handsome Harry" Pierpont et croyez-moi, après cette lecture, vous vous direz qu'il n'a pas eu les honneurs qu'il méritait !
Ce n'est pas très moral de dire ça en parlant de gangsters, de pilleurs de banque, de braqueurs de drugstores, armés et dangereux.
Ça ne rigolait pas avec eux et ils ont laissé des corps froids sur leur passage. Mais les flics aussi parce que dans le genre « je ne sais pas bien tirer », les flics étaient les champions et se sont même tués entre eux… C'est ballot, ça !
L'auteur, à la manière dont il nous met en scène les membres de la bande, arrive à dégager de l'empathie, de la sympathie pour ces braqueurs qui purgent de lourdes peines de prisons et qui, tels les Dalton, cherchent un moyen de s'évader.
Harry Pierpont est le narrateur de cette histoire dont nous aurons déjà le compte-rendu du final dès le départ. de toute façon, pour qui connait un peu l'Histoire des gangsters américains et celle de Dillinger, pas de surprise. Tout le monde sait comment ça se termina.
Les braqueurs de banque, dans les années 30, avaient la cote auprès du public, je parle bien entendu des petites gens, de l'Amérique d'en-bas, de celle qui fut durement touchée par la Dépression et qui n'était pas contre le fait qu'on vole des voleurs qui les avaient volés.
Parce que pour ceux qui ne le sauraient pas encore, les banquiers ne sont pas des honnêtes gens, loin de là, ce sont des voleurs eux aussi, juste qu'ils sont bien habillés et qu'ils ne nous mettent pas un flingue sur la tempe pour prendre notre fric, ils sont bien plus subtils que ça. Mais nombre d'entre eux avaient magouillé leurs comptes et un braquage permettait de tout remettre à jour.
Alors oui, l'auteur a réussi à me faire apprécier des gangsters, à souhaiter qu'ils s'échappent de prison et j'ai croisé les doigts pour qu'ils n'y retournent pas, mais contre la Vérité Historique, je ne peux rien et nous n'étions pas dans une dystopie.
Ses personnages sont bien campés, réussis, et on a tout de suite de la sympathie pour Handsome Harry, on a envie de saluer son intelligence, moins sa violence quand il abat de sang-froid, mais en tout cas, on en apprend un peu plus sur la bande de Dillinger, même si personne ne sait toute la vérité puisque les faits divergent et les témoins ne sont pas fidèles.
La seule chose que je n'ai pas trop aimé c'est la manière dont sont présentés les dialogues que l'auteur a englobé dans le texte narratif. Au début, ça passe, mais à la fin, ça devenait lourd et donnait au texte l'impression qu'il avait été écrit par un débutant alors que nous sommes tout de même face à James Carlos Blake.
Hormis ce petit bémol, tout le reste passe comme dans du beurre, on découvre les fake news de l'époque avec des journalistes prêts à raconter n'importe quoi pour vendre leurs feuilles de choux, on parle de politiciens véreux, des gardiens de prison corruptibles, des balances, de l'amitié, de la fraternité et on vit les poursuites à du 100 à l'heure parce que dans les années 30, ce n'étaient pas les bolides de Fast and Furious mais elles avaient encore des marche-pieds pratiques pour mettre les otages.
Si vous voulez faire un tour dans l'univers carcéral des États-Unis des années 30, vous prendre un peu de la grande Dépression dans la gueule, voir la prohibition se terminer et boire à sa santé, braquer des banques, vous décoiffer la permanente en roulant à 100 à l'heure dans les rues de Chicago (ou dans une autre ville), prendre du bon temps en Floride, baiser avec des mauvais garçons ou vous évader de manière brillante, ma foi, ce livre est fait pour vous.
Si vous avez tendance à être pour la Loi et de son côté, ou banquier, vous risquez de grincer des dents lors de la lecture, surtout devant les réponses de Handsome Harry devant les juges.
Dommage pour les dialogues insérés dans le texte, sans cela, j'aurais mieux aimé la présentation du texte et je l'aurais trouvé moins laborieux, moins lourd à certains moments.
June 24, 2013
In his Author's Note at the back of Handsome Harry, James Carlos Blake states that his novel's "chief allegiance is not to the fact but to the truth of its story."
In telling this story in Harry's voice, Blake has to fill in the gaps between known facts and dubious facts. He uses the gaps to shape Harry's voice and life. Blake's imagination makes the story and characters whole. I had already read Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough and seen the same-named film many times (see my pdf review on my website www.jimguigli.com). The film takes some liberties with the facts, many compared to Handsome Harry. Even with knowing what would happen, Handsome Harry was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me, and, yes, a page-turner.
A bonus is Blake's economy of language, reminding me some of Elmore Leonard. Blake's descriptions through Harry's eyes were worth the price of the book alone. One example, New Mexico:
"The river was the color of rum and ran past yellow hills and green pepper fields and red and blue mountain ranges under thunderheads and faraway purple rain."
In telling this story in Harry's voice, Blake has to fill in the gaps between known facts and dubious facts. He uses the gaps to shape Harry's voice and life. Blake's imagination makes the story and characters whole. I had already read Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough and seen the same-named film many times (see my pdf review on my website www.jimguigli.com). The film takes some liberties with the facts, many compared to Handsome Harry. Even with knowing what would happen, Handsome Harry was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me, and, yes, a page-turner.
A bonus is Blake's economy of language, reminding me some of Elmore Leonard. Blake's descriptions through Harry's eyes were worth the price of the book alone. One example, New Mexico:
"The river was the color of rum and ran past yellow hills and green pepper fields and red and blue mountain ranges under thunderheads and faraway purple rain."
August 20, 2013
Handsome Harry is a retelling of the John Dillinger story through the eyes of Handsome Harry Pierpont, who was a notorious member of the Dillinger Gang and the only one to die in the electric chair.
Handsome Harry and John Dillinger made headlines as bank robbers and fighting it out in gun battles. Harry's story takes us through his teenage years as a small time crook to his meeting with John Dillinger. Many banks were robbed and the gang also made escapes from the penitentiary and other smaller jails. The gang enjoyed what they were doing and liked being on the edge all the time. This was a good life for them and their girlfriends.
This was a good read and I think it will be enjoyed by all who read it.
Handsome Harry and John Dillinger made headlines as bank robbers and fighting it out in gun battles. Harry's story takes us through his teenage years as a small time crook to his meeting with John Dillinger. Many banks were robbed and the gang also made escapes from the penitentiary and other smaller jails. The gang enjoyed what they were doing and liked being on the edge all the time. This was a good life for them and their girlfriends.
This was a good read and I think it will be enjoyed by all who read it.
July 11, 2009
This book is getting better and better. I am now on page 150.
Almost finished with this book. Really gritty and good. Will be done by the weekend--Michelle--do you still want it? Bought more books by him from Amazon.
Finished the book. Really good. I was sad when I finished it.
Almost finished with this book. Really gritty and good. Will be done by the weekend--Michelle--do you still want it? Bought more books by him from Amazon.
Finished the book. Really good. I was sad when I finished it.
November 9, 2010
I didnt think I would like this book. But after getting through the first hundred pages, I just couldnt put it down. James Blake has a gift of writing that totally sucks you in.
This book is not for young readers, but only for good mature adults..
This book is not for young readers, but only for good mature adults..
May 2, 2012
Very entertaining novel. Based very largely on facts, actual personalities like John Dillinger and his Terror Gang in the early thirties. Stream of consciousness style may be a little unsettling at times but added to its charm. Highly recommend as this is anj enjoyable read.
June 23, 2008
Another brilliant take on men behaving badly, this time an update on the gangster saga.
December 29, 2008
Every bit as good as "Under The Skin" or "The Friends Of Pancho Villa." Fast-paced and well-written.
August 21, 2009
Really great book. Super interesting.
May 25, 2011
半分ノンフィクションって感じですが、
ほぼフィクションみたいな話です。
そんな簡単に、脱獄できたんですか？？？
パブリックエネミーを見たくなりました。
ほぼフィクションみたいな話です。
そんな簡単に、脱獄できたんですか？？？
パブリックエネミーを見たくなりました。
June 5, 2011
A very fun book, great hero with a fun voice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews