Chester Himes se consagró como un maestro de la novela negra ambientada en Harlem, creando narrativas crudas que exploraban las complejidades de la raza y la vida urbana. Sus obras se distinguen por un estilo austero y sin sentimentalismos que aborda sin tapujos temas como el racismo, la violencia y las duras realidades de la experiencia estadounidense. Himes combinó hábilmente tramas emocionantes con profundos estudios de personajes, ofreciendo una aguda crítica social que resonó profundamente. Su voz única y su cautivadora narrativa cimentaron su legado como un cronista importante de la América negra de mediados del siglo XX.
En Harlem la gente no tiene mucho que perder. Inivernos heladores, olores nauseabundos y miseria en la calles curan de espantos para toda una vida; seguramente corta, ya que balas y navajas, capaces de atravesar un cuerpo a la luz del día, rondan en el gueto a vecinos, estafadores, prostitutas y agentes de la ley. Es fácil morir en Harlem. Y los detectives negros conocidos como Sepulturero Jones y Ataúd Johnson lo saben.
"Aquella era la primera noche que Jimmy Monroe, el preso número 57232, pasaba en el dormitorio común. Todo era extraño; todo le resultaba extraño". Novela autobiográfica escrita después de cumplir condena por robo a mano armada, en la que el autor cuenta, con maneras descarnadas y cierto lirismo, cómo el paso por el sistema penitenciario estuvo a punto de quebrantar su salud mental y romper, para siempre, el concepto del amor que tanto había sublimado.
A white cop's violent outburst triggers a high-stakes pursuit to eliminate a witness, setting the stage for a gripping standalone crime thriller. The narrative delves into themes of justice and morality, exploring the consequences of unchecked power and racial tensions. As the tension escalates, readers are drawn into a world where survival hangs in the balance, showcasing the author's knack for creating intense, character-driven stories.
Set against a backdrop of a tumultuous weekend filled with sex, alcohol, and violence, the narrative explores the intense and destructive relationship between two individuals. As their lives intertwine, the story delves into the darker aspects of desire and the consequences of their choices, culminating in a tragic outcome. The acclaimed author, known for the Harlem Detectives series, weaves a gripping tale of passion and peril that examines the fragility of human connections.
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.
A special edition of A Rage in Harlem, a ripping introduction to Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones, who patrol New York City’s roughest streets in Chester Himes’s groundbreaking Harlem Detectives series. Featuring an introduction by James Ellroy. 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. “Himes’s Harlem saga vies with the novels of David Goodis and Jim Thompson as the inescapable achievement of postwar American crime fiction.” —The New York Times A Vintage Crime/Black Lizard Special Edition
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.
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.
