La croisade solitaire

by Chester Himes

"Comme la plupart des romans américains contemporains, La croisade solitaire est écrit avec le plus absolu souci de réalisme, donnant une version cruelle des faits, sans excuses, ni concessions. J'affirme très nettement que ces pages sont les premières à donner une peinture d'une indubitable authenticité quant aux rapports entre les Noirs, les communistes et les syndicats. L'attitude raciste du prolétariat américain choquera sans doute le lecteur français. Mais il ne faut pas oublier que les syndicalistes américains sont des hommes comme les autres, qu'ils ont en partage les qualités et les défauts d'une nation jeune, mal dégrossie, violente et désordonnée qui n'a pas encore bien conscience d'elle-même et qui, à bien des égards, peut à peine être appelée "nation" tant sont vastes et diverses ses réalités sociales, raciales et géographiques. Dans La croisade solitaire, l'Amérique ne nous est pas dépeinte par un propagandiste à la solde de l'État ni par un prophète inspiré de Dieu, mais par un jeune artiste noir dont la seule passion est de dire la vérité telle qu'il la voit et la sent. Ce livre [...] n'est ni anti ni procapitaliste : il est tout simplement humain. J'en recommande vivement la lecture aux Français qui désirent enfin être éclairés sur une phase cruciale de la vie américaine." Richard Wright, 1952.

Genres: Fiction, Race, Classics, Literature, Novels, African American

528 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

About the author

Chester 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.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find Chester Himes' writing entirely humbling, and this will rub your heart raw with the horrors of race in America the way only Himes could do. It is like a blunt hammer, and the deeper you read, the deeper your understanding that such blunt force is required.

"'Nigger, white man, gentile, Jew...'
Mexicans, Europeans, Orientals, South Americans - and Filipinos, he added to the quartet. Southerners, Northerners, Easterners, Westerners - and Indians - this was manpower.
With the curious blend of native and migrant, racial and religious, current and traditional hatreds - this was culture.
Living in overcrowded houses and dilapidated shacks, deserted stores and trailer camps, four beds in the bedroom and two beds in the hallway - this was housing.
Sugar shortages and black-market meat, double prices for half values - this was food.
Overcrowded hospitals and brutal police, idle streetcars and hustling criminals, and bewildered administration and prejudiced lawmakers - this was welfare."

Some things never change, like the kind of racism still prevalent on the left, and the beauty of the rare few who can step outside of it...but this is a fascinating glimpse of L.A. in the forties, the strength of the ideals and the horrifying party weaknesses of communism, the struggle to unionize during a time of plenty...

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though he's well known for his crime and detective novels, Chester Himes wrote two works of political, social realist fiction early in his career. Lonely Crusade, his second novel, drew comparisons to Dostoevsky and praise from James Baldwin but also suffered a critical drubbing from the mainstream press. A commercial failure as well, the novel was hated by both the right-wing and left-wing establishment for Himes' honest depiction of how a black man is used as a pawn and a symbol by conservative business interests and leftist organizations. He couldn't catch a break, but the book has outlasted its initial reception. The story of a black union organizer at an aircraft factory in Los Angeles in 1943, the novel is a tough but empathetic look at the intertwined psychology of the oppressed and their oppressors. Unlike many polemical novels of the period, the characters here are complex and distinct, not one-dimensional symbols. Though Lee Gordon, the union organizer, is the main character and focus, the supporting characters are finely detailed and vital, providing multiple perspectives, critiques, and a more complex understanding of every choice made. Rather than forcing his characters to be mouthpieces for his message, Himes creates a community of differing voices and lets them all speak.

[Feargal McGovern · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read all year, and one that I reccomend all communists to read.
A terrific story portraying how race, masculinity and femininity undermine personal relationships and solidarity among the working class - not least in the context of union organising. It was really satisfying to read this having not too long ago read 'Black skin, White masks' by Fanon, being able to see all the same psychological elements as described by Fanon that underpin racism - despite this having been written some 20 years before hand.

The best part however is the critique of the Communist Party at the height stalinist decay, with its opportunist zigzags in policy from left to right. One moment calling the blacks to take a militant stand against racial oppression and supporting Stalin pact with the Nazi's. The next saying the blacks needed to stop protesting against racism in the interest of working class unity, and calling on the working class not to strike against capital and to support the war effort - effectively abandoning black workers to build alliance with middle class liberals as a result of its popular front strategy and black workers leaving in droves.

Could hardly put it down, finished it in less than a week

[Vern Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lonely Crusade by Chester Himes is the most important American novel I have read. Not my favorite. Not the most enjoyable. Just the most important.

[Santi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buena novela que trata principalmente el tema del racismo en Estados Unidos.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brutal read, but worth it.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

engaging from the outset, lonely crusade gets you rooting (tragically) for lee gordon, however, by page 200 you just know it can't possibly end in lee's favor. himes does a remarkable job of elucidating the tragedies of hesitation and miscommunication and their affects on his characters' consciences. work, marriage and social situations burden lee gordon as he tries to maintain his integrity, pride and (to a lesser extent) his ego; meanwhile lee burdens those around him with his actions in those situations. also some deeper discussions of communism, work unions and race relations in early- and mid-20th century america.

this is a difficult read because of the constant disappointments. recommended, but not for gray days.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chester Himes Lonely Crusade in facsimile via the Open Library. Totally engaging book for me, I identified with the feeling of repression in Gordon as a worker who is vocal in the cause of trade unionism but in an unsympathetic environment. Hime’s powerful grasp of narrative, and his ability to instantly characterise people in crisp description as well as effortlessly move on to relay powerful dialogue, carrying all this off whilst slipping his didactic concerns into the mix. Clearly written from experience and yet the novel is so comprehensive in scope, the incisiveness of his understanding of socialist, communist, legal and racial arguments. A profound book. And, of course, Himes does not yet have a volume in the Library of America series.

[PaddytheMick · Rating 3 out of 5]

to me this read like a direct extension of "if he hollers...". has some very deep exposition on race, and alot of anachronistic unionism/communism references that were very ŕelevant when the book was written. however, my opinion is that this book does not differentiate itself enough from "if he hollers..." to warrant a read; unless you are interested in the unionism angle.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frustrated black man tries to find his place in Los Angeles in this novel of the 1940s. Himes' penetrating comments on unions, communists, marriage, and interracial relations are wrapped in a fine story.

[Eric Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another of my favorite Himes novels. Political and very tough. I like his earlier, more political novels like this one a lot better than his Harlem police novels.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's preposterous that this is rated higher than Invisible Man. Do better, Goodreads.

This reads as a much less artful, much more obnoxious impression of Richard Wright or Ralph Ellison. There are only a few sympathetic characters and the protagonist is definitely not one of them. Yet the ending suggests this odiousness is unintentional by Himes, because he really seems to want us to swallow that the three sympathetic characters see something worth loving in our main guy. Frankly it reads as unintentionally autobiographical, and some of the protagonist's inner musings throughout the book -- e.g. his violent misogyny, his anti-semitism, and his general entitlement -- make me feel very uncomfortable toward Himes himself.

The 3rd person omniscient perspective did not work for me at all. Spending 80% of the book in the mind of our protagonist only to occasionally flit into the heads of the side characters was clumsy and distracting. Also, the armchair psychologizing of each of these characters was both dubious and overexplanatory, never more so when he proceeded to explain to the reader how one of the Jewish characters was actually incredibly anti-semitic. Sorry Mr. Himes, I'm just not convinced you know the inner workings of the Jewish mind as well as you think you do, and definitely not well enough to explain it to me without yourself coming across as anti-semitic.

The plot and pacing is off too. You don't ever really understand where it's going, apart from knowing it can't really end well. But then something insane abruptly occurs with about 50 pages left, something that seems like it's from another genre of story, but the rest of the novel doesn't actually resolve it. It kind of goes back to being the same aimless story it was before the event. It's really weird.

Anyway, I've read three Himes novels at this point, the best being If He Hollers Let Him Go, and I don't feel a desire to read any more. I appreciate what he was going for, and I think there's a lot of value in his perspective, I just think he was a distinctly lower tier of writer than others who were going for the same thing. If you're considering reading this I would just recommend reading (or re-reading) Invisible Man instead.

Not Bad Reviews

[Joshua William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lonely Crusade is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that tackles complex social and political issues with remarkable honesty and depth. Set during World War II, Chester Himes uses the story of a young Black union organizer to explore racism, labor politics, corruption, and the psychological toll of discrimination in America.

What makes the novel especially compelling is its willingness to confront difficult questions without offering easy answers. Himes examines the emotional burden of systemic racism and how it shapes identity, relationships, and personal ambition. The protagonist's internal struggles are portrayed with nuance, making his journey both heartbreaking and deeply human.

Beyond its social commentary, Lonely Crusade is a well-crafted work of literary fiction filled with sharp dialogue, memorable characters, and moments of genuine emotional impact. Himes' writing is bold, insightful, and unflinching, encouraging readers to reflect on the intersections of race, power, and justice.

Although the novel was written decades ago, many of its themes remain strikingly relevant. Lonely Crusade is an important and rewarding read for anyone interested in historical fiction, African American literature, or stories that challenge readers to think critically about society and the human condition.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lonely Crusade is a 1947 psychological and political novel by American author Chester Himes. Plot and Themes the Protagonist: The story follows Lee Gordon, a college-educated Black man.The Conflict: Lee takes a job at a war-production aircraft factory and tries to unionize the Black workers. The Betrayal: Lee realizes that Communists, white union organizers, management, and even people close to him are using him for their own agendas. Core Themes: The book explores systemic racism, labor politics, alienation, and the psychological toll of discrimination on Black Americans during the mid-20th century. You should read Lonely Crusade because it offers a brutal, honest, and highly relevant look at the intersection of race, labor, and American politics. Why You Should Read It Flawed Protagonist: Lee Gordon is complex, insecure, and deeply human rather than a perfect hero. Political Disillusionment: It exposes how both corporate capitalism and the Communist Party exploit Black workers for their own gain. Historical Realism: The story captures the tense, booming atmosphere of World War II-era Los Angeles. Psychological Depth: It masterfully details the constant anxiety and mental exhaustion caused by systemic racism. Modern Relevance: The novel's critique of union politics, racial division, and institutional manipulation still applies today.

[Kyle Borland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book for a California Labor History class at City College of San Francisco. One of the best books I’ve ever read, beautifully written, and an absolutely brutal read. If you’re interested in reading, be prepared for sexual violence, police brutality, racism, misogyny, misogynoir, anti-semitism, and more. The book was hated when it was published because it is exceptionally honest and shines a light on the systemic flaw in unionism, communism, and capitalism/industrialists in 1943 Los Angeles aircraft factory. This book will stay with me for a long time.

Rosie is a bright spot and the best sections of the book are conversations between him and Lee (the main character). Whenever Rosie appears, be prepared for a treat.

[Sabena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chester Himes, where have you been all my life?!

Pretty darn heavy (and angry) in comparison to his detective series.

Lived a large part of his life (and died) in Europe, finding a home he didn't feel he had in the U.S. And in this novel, he doesnt hesitate to describe why. A deep, deep DEEP dive into the psyche of a Black man trying hard to hold it together.

Quite a humbling - and at times, very uncomfortable- read. But well worth it.

[Bella Rivas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t really enjoy this book + the main character hated women but I have to admit it was important so I guess it was okay

[SalmaD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un roman poignant qui relate très bien les dynamiques psychologiques et émotionnelles du racisme systémique sur les individus.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Himes doesn't pull any punches in this excruciating look at race and class in wartime America circa 1945. He takes a deep look at Black/ Jewish relations as well as the tense relations between the classes, as well as the strange relationship between labor and communism during WW2. One of the best noirs I've read.

[Amy Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

While difficult to get through, this novel is rewarding at the end. At the core, this novel is a romance novel between Lee, the main character, and Ruth, his wife. The trials and hardships that they face due to their circumstances and the outright racism they experience.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can terrorize a man in his subconscious? Chester Himes addressing this question along with a multitude of social issues and concerns rife with bitterness through the protagonist Lee Gordon's life, and all those he comes in contact with.

[Mike Murashige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yikes. Anyone who reads this will understand why he left the U.S., not to mention the bitterness, but it's hard to hang in there for the 600 or so pages.