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Cotton Comes to Harlem

By Chester Himes
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,469 ratings, 255 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes is a gripping detective novel set in 1960s Harlem. It follows two savvy and slightly cynical detectives, Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson, as they investigate the theft of funds meant for a black economic cooperative. The plot encapsulates the vibrancy and turbulence of Harlem during that era, combining social commentary with suspense.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you enjoy gritty crime stories set in vivid urban landscapes. With its sharp dialogue and vibrant atmosphere, it skilfully combines elements of mystery and social commentary, delving into the challenges and complexities faced by Harlem's residents. Fans of hard-boiled detective fiction and tales with a strong sense of place will find this particularly appealing.

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Cotton Comes to Harlem

Con man Deak O'Hara is out of the state penitentiary and back on the street working the scam of a lifetime. The $87,000 he has schemed to get has been hijacked and hidden in a bale of cotton. Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones are on everyone's trail in one of their most entertaining thrillers.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human condition. - Will Self

A preacher called Deke O'Malley's been selling false hope — the promise of a glorious new life in Africa for just $1,000 a family. But when thieves with machine guns steal the proceeds — and send one man to the morgue — the con is up. Now Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed mean to bring the good people of Harlem back their $87,000, however many corpses they have to climb over to get it.

Cotton Comes to Harlem is a non-stop ride, with violence, sex, double-crosses, and the two baddest detectives ever to wear a badge in Harlem.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Cotton Comes to Harlem by Chester Himes is hailed as a significant find in American crime fiction, reminiscent of Raymond Chandler's style. The novel is described as a vibrant and thrilling ride, filled with vivid, surreal characters and a rich portrayal of Harlem. Critics praise Himes for his mastery of character and plot, celebrating his work as both entertaining and insightful within the black literary tradition.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241521090

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 March 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 179g

Pages: 240

Collections

Chester Himes Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Chester Himes was born in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1909 and grew up in Cleveland. Aged 19 he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to 25 years in jail. In jail he began to write short stories, some of which were published in Esquire magazine. Upon release he took a variety of jobs, from working in a California shipyard to journalism to script-writing, while continuing to write fiction. He later moved to Paris where he was commissioned to write the first of his Harlem detective novels, A Rage in Harlem, which won the 1957 Grand Prix du Roman Policier. In 1969 Himes moved to Spain, where he died in 1984.

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