- Paperback: 491 pages
- Publisher: Payback Press; Reprint edition (15 April 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0862415969
- ISBN-13: 978-0862415969
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.4 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 360,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
This collection of three novels presents Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, Harlem's toughest pair of cops. Renowned for their meanness and always armed with their legendary nickel-plated colts, they patrol the streets of Harlem and attempt to keep some semblance of law and order.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Easy, enjoyable read. Himes recreates the culture and language of the streets in every line. Sharp dialouge and black humour are mixed with desription that brings alive the social conditions of Harlem. It really gives the impression of people packed into grimey tennaments. It is also steeped music, especially blues and spirituals.
As well as being first class crime fiction it also contains the concerns and issues facing the black population of the time. Many of the characters have migrated from the rural south only to find themselves in trouble once again.
Religion also figures largely whether Christianity (A Rage In Harlem)or Islam (The Real Kool Killers), and Himes' cynicism on the subject was enjoyable to an atheist like myself.
Similar to Iceberg Slim, but slightly better and a decade earlier. And with three novels in one volume, you can't go wrong.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
underappreciated
13 Oct 2000
Format:Paperback
This is a typically entertaining entry in Himes' Coffin Ed Johnson/Grave Digger Jones series. The two Harlem police detectives investigate a stabbing at a wake and the usual cast of colorful characters--gamblers, pool sharks, holy-roller preachers, etc.--are on hand.
Himes may well be the best black American author of all time. It seems he was sold short by serious critics because of his status as a "crime writer" & perhaps by mystery fans because of his race, but it appears a major reappraisal of his work is underway and he is finally getting his due.
GRADE: B
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Great fun!
28 Jan 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An excellent series of stories. Himes writes about a subculture of crime and other pathologies without trying to score political points one way or the other. He's just telling a rousing tale. I'm eager to read more by him.
3 stories--1 book--- from THE HARLEM CYCLE
6 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
THE BEST IN DETECTIVE FICTION.
CHESTER HIMES 7/29/1909 to 11/12/84.
Born in Missouri, moved to Ark. then moved
to Ohio. His parents were highly educated
and teachers.Were victims of racism..and
Himes was never able to forget it.
Served time in the OHIO Pen..armed robbery.
Started writing in the pen to keep out of
trouble. After prison he began to sell his
stories and did screen writing.
Moved to Paris and lived among a group of
American writers..was well liked and admir-
ed.
Was a bohemian. He and his lovely wife
LESLIE moved to Spain where he died in 1984.
++++++++++++
Who are COFFIN ED JOHNSON and GRAVE DIGGER
JONES -- policemen, violent, corrupt, busted
heads, always got a confession and they were
always together. Both had wives and kids but
they are never mentioned.
Grave digger is more philosophical..Coffin
is just down right mean. If you have not met
them before...you will love them..you are in
for a treat. Several years ago some very
BAD movies were made about them..ignore
those.
*************
*A RAGE-tickets to heaven in Harlem, Secrets,
stealing and payback.
*A REAL COOL-Coffins daughter is involved in
bad business. There is an old Greek and young
black girls.
*CRAZY KILL-opium,whiskey and violence. Murder
and visions.
*************
Every one says that WALTER MOSELY learned to
write from HIMES.
CHESTER HIMES SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS
ONE OF AMERICAS BEST WRITERS. Iam so glad
I found him.
Amazon has a great selection of his books. My
book was in good condition-shipped fast and was
a great price.
bbp okc ok 62
CHESTER HIMES 7/29/1909 to 11/12/84.
Born in Missouri, moved to Ark. then moved
to Ohio. His parents were highly educated
and teachers.Were victims of racism..and
Himes was never able to forget it.
Served time in the OHIO Pen..armed robbery.
Started writing in the pen to keep out of
trouble. After prison he began to sell his
stories and did screen writing.
Moved to Paris and lived among a group of
American writers..was well liked and admir-
ed.
Was a bohemian. He and his lovely wife
LESLIE moved to Spain where he died in 1984.
++++++++++++
Who are COFFIN ED JOHNSON and GRAVE DIGGER
JONES -- policemen, violent, corrupt, busted
heads, always got a confession and they were
always together. Both had wives and kids but
they are never mentioned.
Grave digger is more philosophical..Coffin
is just down right mean. If you have not met
them before...you will love them..you are in
for a treat. Several years ago some very
BAD movies were made about them..ignore
those.
*************
*A RAGE-tickets to heaven in Harlem, Secrets,
stealing and payback.
*A REAL COOL-Coffins daughter is involved in
bad business. There is an old Greek and young
black girls.
*CRAZY KILL-opium,whiskey and violence. Murder
and visions.
*************
Every one says that WALTER MOSELY learned to
write from HIMES.
CHESTER HIMES SHOULD GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS
ONE OF AMERICAS BEST WRITERS. Iam so glad
I found him.
Amazon has a great selection of his books. My
book was in good condition-shipped fast and was
a great price.
bbp okc ok 62
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
