The Night of the Hunter

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( 2,878 ratings, 416 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
The Night of the Hunter is a gripping crime and thriller novel revolving around a sinister preacher named Harry Powell, who marries widows to steal their savings. The story unfolds as he learns of a hidden fortune from his latest victim's children, leading to a tense pursuit filled with moral conflict and suspense. Set in the American South during the Great Depression, the book explores themes of good versus evil.
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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 enjoy this gripping crime and thriller novel if you appreciate dark, atmospheric stories that delve into the psychology of good versus evil. This tale, inspired by real events, offers intense suspense with a haunting plot centred around a cunning, malevolent antagonist. Its Southern Gothic elements and dramatic tension promise an unforgettable experience for fans of morally complex narratives.

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The Night of the Hunter

"The basis for the classic movie starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. Novels that inspired great films"--Cover.

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

A rediscovered diabolical slice of great American noir.

The Night of the Hunter is one of the great chase novels, centred on the ferocious, unforgettable figure of Preacher, a psychopath who relentlessly pursues two children who may or may not know the secret of where the money from a bank raid is hidden.

Set in a brilliantly rendered Depression-era American river town, Davis Grubb's novel is both a study of innocence and evil and a savage picture of human failings. One by one, the adults who have the power to protect the children fall for Preacher's wiles.

'What kind of a man would have his fingers tattooed that way?... What kind of a man? What kind of a preacher?'

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?

The Night of the Hunter by Davis Grubb is highly regarded in the crime and thriller genre, often described as the gold standard of southern noir. The book features a charismatic and psychopathic villain, Harry Powell, whose character continues to evoke terror even today. It is praised for its captivating narrative, described as both a thrilling and beautiful work of verbal artistry by the New York Times.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241640425

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 July 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 195g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Davis Grubb was born in the Ohio River town of Moundsville, West Virginia in 1919 and died in New York City in 1980. He lived a various life, writing novels and short stories, screenplays, television treatments and working as a radio announcer. The Night of the Hunter was shortlisted for the 1955 National Book Award and in the same year was made into a legendary film starring Robert Mitchum as Preacher.

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