Chester B. Himes Libros

"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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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