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The Harlem Cycle Vol. 2: The Big Gold Dream; All Shot Up; The Heat's On
This second omnibus edition from Himes's "Harlem Cycle" sees three more novels featuring Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones. The novels "The Big Gold Dream", "All Shot Up" and "The Heat's On". Chester Himes is the author of "The Real Cool Killers" and "The Crazy Kill".
496 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
63 people want to read
About the author
Chester Himes
122 books484 followersChester Bomar Himes began writing in the early 1930s while serving a prison sentence for armed robbery. From there, he produced short stories for periodicals such as Esquire and Abbott's Monthly. When released, he focussed on semi-autobiographical protest novels.
In 1953, Himes emigrated to France, where he was approached by Marcel Duhamel of Gallimard to write a detective series for Série Noire, which had published works from the likes of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson. Himes would be the first black author included in the series. The resulting Harlem Cycle gained him celebrity when he won France's Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for La Reine des Pommes (now known in English as A Rage in Harlem) in 1958. Three of these novels have been adapted into movies: Cotton Comes to Harlem, directed by Ossie Davis in 1970; Come Back, Charleston Blue (based on The Heat's On) in 1972; and A Rage in Harlem, starring Gregory Hines and Danny Glover in 1991.
In 1968, Himes moved to Spain where he made his home until his death.
In 1953, Himes emigrated to France, where he was approached by Marcel Duhamel of Gallimard to write a detective series for Série Noire, which had published works from the likes of Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Jim Thompson. Himes would be the first black author included in the series. The resulting Harlem Cycle gained him celebrity when he won France's Grand Prix de Littérature Policière for La Reine des Pommes (now known in English as A Rage in Harlem) in 1958. Three of these novels have been adapted into movies: Cotton Comes to Harlem, directed by Ossie Davis in 1970; Come Back, Charleston Blue (based on The Heat's On) in 1972; and A Rage in Harlem, starring Gregory Hines and Danny Glover in 1991.
In 1968, Himes moved to Spain where he made his home until his death.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 1, 2015
I love this author. I am not the type that sees racism in everything, but that is the only reason I can think of, why Chester Himes did not see the popularity of Chandler, Hammett or Spillane.
The characters are classic pulp and the stories hold you. I have to admit, my least favorite in this book was the last one, The Heat's On. Maybe I had one too many glasses of wine that night, but I just had trouble following the story.
If you are a fan of a good dark and violent detective novel, pick up anything by Chester Himes. I promise you a bumpy, but thoroughly enjoyable ride!
The characters are classic pulp and the stories hold you. I have to admit, my least favorite in this book was the last one, The Heat's On. Maybe I had one too many glasses of wine that night, but I just had trouble following the story.
If you are a fan of a good dark and violent detective novel, pick up anything by Chester Himes. I promise you a bumpy, but thoroughly enjoyable ride!
Displaying 1 of 1 review