The Devil Rides Outside

by John Howard Griffin

SAME COVER AS STOCK PHOTO SHOWN. SCUFFING, CREASING AND EDGE WEAR ON COVERS AND SPINE. FIRST 78 PAGES ARE PRESENT, BUT HAVE DETACHED FROM SPINE. ALL OTHER PAGES CLEAN AND INTACT. MUSTY ODOR. FIRST CARDINAL PRINTING-JAN. 1954.

596 pages

Published January 1, 1952

About the author

John Howard Griffin was a white American journalist who is best known for his account, Black Like Me, in which he details the experience of darkening his skin and traveling as a black man through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia in 1959. (The racism that he encountered was so disturbing that he cut short the time that he had allotted for this very unique experiment, clearly demonstrating that no one would tolerate being treated as many blacks are, if he or she could possibly avoid it.)

Reviews

[Daniel Namie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Devil Rides Outside" by Griffin is an extraordinary first novel from a 32 year old man. Interestingly, the journal style of writing Griffin portrays in "The Devil Rides Outside" parallels his later book entitled "Black Like Me."

Even more interesting about "The Devil Rides Outside," which is contrary to "Black Like Me," is that Griffin apparently wrote "The Devil Rides Outside" from his own imagination. Where as, "Black Like Me" was a chronological account of Griffins perilous journey through Southern Black American in the 1960 as a white man who pharmaceutically alter his caucasian skin to negro in order to fully understand the undercurrent and apparent racism between whites and blacks.

What is fascinating about "The Devil Rides Outside" is the seeming symbolism of Griffin's characterization of the Devil as a French woman named Madam Renee. The suggestive Devil characterized of Madam Renee is symbolized by her clever camouflage of a respectable French woman. Madam Renee proves through the 570 page book that she is everything opposite of respectable. By the end, the reader hatred level of Madam Renee rivals the antagonist Iago in Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello."

[A Shan · Rating 3 out of 5]

well written and immersive. was waiting for a defining event that kinda never came. anti-climatic.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. It is the journey of a young man into a monastery and focuses on his struggle especially with his sexuality.

[Terri Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

About a young man / student who goes to live with the monks in the monastery for a while to study music. A good read, but i'm too tired at moment to give a good review.