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The Weak and the Strong
NY 1946 first edition. Simon and Schuster. Hardcover octavo. Near Fine , light foxing on closed page ends; no wear; no owner marks. in VG dj. light wear on edges of dj; price not clipped.
209 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1946
15 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
February 3, 2021
As far as the works of the great Gerald Kersh are concerned, this book is a weak (pun intended) effort in comparison to some of the masterpieces that he crafted both before and after its release. It is one of those books that feels like not much happens- particularly by way of chaos, carnage and set pieces, but in fact a lot happens as far as character development goes. And that is what this mostly is- a character study. If you know Kersh, you know that is worth the price of admission alone, as NOBODY describes or builds characters like him. The way he profiles the look and nature of a character named Hromka and his manservant Ochs is simply mind-blowing. Some absolutely splendid trademark Kersh writing is within these pages, some of it so good it makes you read whole passages twice at times.
The novel is set in a cave, in which a group of people become trapped. The best parts of this concern the shifting of relationships and the power struggles between these people, trapped in their predicaments, and the malice and venom that is on display during the event and the aftermath. The way in which a lowly character out in the world is at the top of the food chain in such a place is fascinating to read- as Kersh puts it, 'In the cave, the cave man is king'. Much of the proceedings are based around the stories and arguments that the characters have. A standout is the story a character tells of his meeting with a tribe in the jungle and the weird occurrences there. This section reminds me of Kersh's briliant short story 'Men Without Bones', and is probably the best part of the book.
Definitely not a very strong (again, pun intended) work by Kersh, but still worth reading.
The novel is set in a cave, in which a group of people become trapped. The best parts of this concern the shifting of relationships and the power struggles between these people, trapped in their predicaments, and the malice and venom that is on display during the event and the aftermath. The way in which a lowly character out in the world is at the top of the food chain in such a place is fascinating to read- as Kersh puts it, 'In the cave, the cave man is king'. Much of the proceedings are based around the stories and arguments that the characters have. A standout is the story a character tells of his meeting with a tribe in the jungle and the weird occurrences there. This section reminds me of Kersh's briliant short story 'Men Without Bones', and is probably the best part of the book.
Definitely not a very strong (again, pun intended) work by Kersh, but still worth reading.
August 22, 2008
The Weak and the Strong, a mid-career piece from Kersh, should have been better - It is Kersh's 12th book in 11 years. However, it is an easy and quick read, and for that reason, leads me to think that it was an easy and quick write for Kersh. It is essentially one idea - characters trapped in a cave and facing their own mortality reveal their true, ugly selves. There are some memorable passages and novel ideas which make the book worth perusing for Kersh fans, but it pales compared to his excellent Night and the City and The Thousand Deaths of Mr. Small, each of which was written with real anguish, pathos, bile and poetic insight, with an edge which The Weak and the Strong lacks. I look forward to reading later Kersh, where he strays from pulp and military novels towards 'weird' fiction and sci-fi, and hopefully rewards the few readers who seek out this all-but-forgotten author.
February 25, 2016
This was my least favourite Kersh so far, but still head and shoulders above most writers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews