Chester Himes ontpopte zich als een meester van de Harlem detective roman, en creëerde rauwe verhalen die de complexiteit van ras en het stadsleven verkenden. Zijn werken worden gekenmerkt door een sobere, onsentimentele stijl die zonder terughoudendheid thema's als racisme, geweld en de harde realiteit van de Amerikaanse ervaring aansnijdt. Himes combineerde vakkundig spannende plots met diepgaande karakterstudies, en bood scherpe sociale commentaar die diep resoneerde. Zijn unieke stem en meeslepende vertelkunst hebben zijn nalatenschap als een belangrijke chroniqueur van zwart Amerika in het midden van de 20e eeuw verstevigd.
Robert Jones has a lot going for him ? a steady job, a steady relationship and plenty of prospects... until a white woman accuses him of rape and, all of a sudden, his prospects seem a lot less bright. Immediately recognised as a masterful expose of racism in everyday life, If He Hollers Let Him Go is Chester Himes? first book, originally published in 1945.
Set against the backdrop of a brutal penitentiary, a young inmate grapples with the harsh realities of prison life while serving a twenty-year sentence for robbery. Amidst chaos and violence, a fire ignites turmoil, leading to a transformative bond with fellow convict Rico. This relationship fosters hope and inspires Jimmy to explore writing as a means of redemption. Drawing from Chester Himes's own experiences, the novel poignantly examines themes of suffering and love, showcasing the author's lyrical prose and the complexities of human connection.
The sudden death of Alberta Wright during a sermon sparks a chaotic scramble for her hidden cash, leading her partner to discover their apartment ransacked. As various individuals vie for Alberta's fortune, detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones are drawn into the investigation, aware that more violence is on the horizon. This gripping narrative intertwines themes of greed and deception, set against the backdrop of a gritty urban landscape filled with suspense and intrigue.
A friend and contemporary of Richard Wright and James Baldwin - and every bit their equal - Chester Himes was the acclaimed author of literary novels, stories and essays, as well as the classic crime fiction series for which he is best known, featuring detectives Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones. Himes wrote nine novels in the Harlem Detectives series, and in these four popular, accomplished instalments, his cold, wise-cracking sleuths are thrown into a brutal, murderous world peopled with conniving con men, gut-toting gangsters and opium-smoking preachers. Himes's vision of Harlem's criminal underground, enriched by deft plotting and scintillating dialogue, is both riotous entertainment and penetrating enquiry into the fraught tensions of race in postwar America.
A white undercover cop vents his rage and starts a cycle of violence from which there is no escape. Walker, one of New York's embittered policemen, is vicious when drunk. Staggering into a restaurant on a freezing day, he kills two black workers "because they were there," and pursues a third who witnessed the murders in one of the most suspenseful chases ever put on paper.
Jesse Robinson wakes from his nightmare to dirty, fitful real life in a Harlem slum. Kriss wakes up alone divorced, disillusioned, in her plush Manhattan apartment. They have nothing in common. Just one amazing, passionate weekend in Chicago and a desire to meet again.
The shocking and explosive hardboiled classic: From murderers to prostitutes, corrupt politicians and racist white detectives, Coffin Ed Johnson and Gravedigger Jones, Harlem's toughest detective duo, must carry the day against an absurdist world of racism and class warfare.
With its bawdy humor and tough-talking characters, this book delivers a wickedly funny and sensuous narrative. The story intertwines sharp wit with a playful exploration of desire, creating a vibrant atmosphere that captivates readers. Expect a blend of humor and sensuality that challenges conventions, making it a bold and entertaining read.
In this chaotic and darkly humorous novel from Chester Himes's Harlem Detectives series, detectives Coffin Ed and Grave Digger Jones face relentless challenges. They deal with excessive force discipline, a hoax about Grave Digger's death, and a rising body count, all while chasing a massive heroin operation led by the enigmatic Pinky.
A Rage in Harlem is a ripping introduction to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, patrolling New York City’s roughest streets in Chester Himes’s groundbreaking Harlem Detectives series. For love of fine, wily Imabelle, hapless Jackson surrenders his life savings to a con man who knows the secret of turning ten-dollar bills into hundreds—and then he steals from his boss, only to lose the stolen money at a craps table. Luckily for him, he can turn to his savvy twin brother, Goldy, who earns a living—disguised as a Sister of Mercy—by selling tickets to Heaven in Harlem. With Goldy on his side, Jackson is ready for payback.
Outside the apartment where a wake is going on, the manager of the A & P across the street is robbed. Reverend Short, a storefront preacher addicted to opium and brandy, is watching from a bedroom window in the flat. He leans too far and falls out; a bread basket, sitting outside the bakery below, saves him. Back inside, he ways he sees a vision of a dead man. Outside, in the very basket Short landed in, lies the body of Valentine Haines. Who murdered Val? It is up to Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson to find out.
When Harlemites set about each other with knives, it's an everyday kind of happening. But when a white man is shot dead in a Harlem street one steamy evening it means trouble, big trouble.Plenty of people had motives for killing Galen, a big Greek with too much money and too great a liking for young black girls. But there are complications - like Sonny, high on hash, found standing over the body with a gun in his hand that fires only blanks, a street gang called the Moslems, a disappearing suspect, and the fact that Coffin Ed's own daughter is up to her pretty neck in the whole explosive situation...
"Black flim-flam man Deke O'Hara is no sooner out of Atlanta's state penitentiary than he's back on the streets working the scam of a lifetime. As sponsor of the Back-to-Africa movement he's counting on the big Harlem rally to produce a big collection for his own private charity. But the take is hijacked by white gunmen and hidden in a bale of cotton that suddenly everyone wants to get his hands on. As NYPD detectives "Coffin Ed" Johnson and "Grave Digger" Jones piece together the complexity of the scheme, we are treated to Himes's brand of hard-boiled crime fiction at its very best."--back cover
Exploring themes of justice and redemption, this novel delves into the aftermath of a tragic death and the consequences of a wrongful conviction. The story unfolds through the eyes of compelling characters as they navigate the complexities of truth and morality. With a gripping narrative, the author, known for the Harlem Detectives series, crafts a poignant tale that highlights the flaws in the legal system and the impact of societal perceptions on individual lives.
Exploring the deep-seated issues of colorism within a black family, this autobiographical novel delves into their struggles to conform to the ideals of the Black middle class in a predominantly white, post-war America. The narrative highlights the emotional and societal challenges they face, providing a poignant commentary on identity, family dynamics, and the quest for acceptance in a divided society. Through rich storytelling, the author sheds light on the complexities of race and belonging.
In Harlem sind die Spielregeln der Liebe anders als in Manhattan. Als Sugar von ihrem Freund ausgesperrt wird, stellt sich heraus, dass sie ihn nicht betrügt. Ihr Verhalten könnte mit Geld zu tun haben, und bald sind acht Menschen in eine Jagd nach Reichtum verwickelt, die chaotische Folgen hat. Coffin Ed Johnson und Grave Digger Jones müssen eingreifen.
Die Geldmacher von Harlem, Heiße Nacht für kühle Killer, Fenstersturz in Harlem
»Chester Himes ist eine Schlüsselfigur in der Literatur des 20. Jahrhunderts, ein scharfsinniger und wütender Chronist des täglichen Lebens.« Thomas Wörtche »Rabenschwarz und garantiert nicht p. c. sind die Krimis des Chester Himes, der sein Personal die Lexington Avenue rauf und runter hetzt, dann Richtung 112te Straße und mit hundert Sachen in die 8th Avenue« Cornelin Zetzsche, Bayerischer Rundfunk
Kriminalroman
Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso
Tomsson Black, politischer Visionär, genialer Businessman und geheimer Verschwörer, organisiert den Aufstand der Schwarzen. Der Roman greift tief in die Geschichte der USA zurück und vermittelt die Hintergründe der allgegenwärtigen Atmosphäre von Gewalt und Rassismus. Als es zur großen Explosion kommt, haben auch Himes’ Helden, die legendären Detektive Grave Digger Jones und Coffin Ed Johnson, keine Chance mehr. Dieser Roman ist Chester Himes’ literarisches Testament - zornig, apokalyptisch, radikal und gleichzeitig ratlos. Himes konnte Plan B nicht mehr selbst abschliessen, der Text wurde nach seinem Tod aufgrund der Manuskripte ediert.
"Aquella era la primera noche que Jimmy Monroe, le prisonnier numéro 57232, passait dans le dortoir commun. Tout était étrange ; tout lui semblait étrange." Roman autobiographique dans lequel l'auteur raconte, avec une prose crue et un certain lyrisme, comment son passage par le système pénitentiaire a failli briser sa santé mentale et a irrémédiablement altéré sa conception de l'amour, qu'il avait tant sublimé.
Big Joe Pullen ist tot, und während der Trauerfeier stürzt ein Mann aus dem Fenster in einen Brotkorb, bleibt jedoch unverletzt. Kurz darauf wird ein toter Mann mit einem Messer in der Brust entdeckt. Grave Digger und Coffin Ed lösen den Fall auf ihre eigene, unkonventionelle Weise und enthüllen Motive, die in Harlem typisch sind.
Kniha obsahuje tři detektivní příběhy: – Z lásky k Imabelle – Jak přišla bavlna do Harlemu – Horký den, horká noc
... Quand on tournait les yeux vers les murs, le regard s'arrêtait. Tout s'arrêtait aux murs. Les murs n'étaient éloignés du bâtiment où se trouvait le dortoir que de cinq métres. Je pensais alors que la liberté était là, à cinq métres. Cinq métres et vingt ans. Ce livre est un violent réquisitoire contre le système pénitenciaire, jugé de l'intérieur par l'auteur qui a lui-même passé sept ans en prison.
