Chester Himes
Chester Himes began his writing career while serving in the Ohio State Penitentiary for armed robbery from 1929 to 1936. From his first novel, If He Hollers Let Him Go, Himes dealt with the social and psychological repercussions of being black in a white-dominated society. Beginning in 1953, Himes moved to Europe, where he met and was strongly influenced by Richard Wright. It was in France that he began his best-known series of crime novels-including Cotton Comes to Harlem-featuring two Harlem...See more
Chester Himes began his writing career while serving in the Ohio State Penitentiary for armed robbery from 1929 to 1936. From his first novel, If He Hollers Let Him Go, Himes dealt with the social and psychological repercussions of being black in a white-dominated society. Beginning in 1953, Himes moved to Europe, where he met and was strongly influenced by Richard Wright. It was in France that he began his best-known series of crime novels-including Cotton Comes to Harlem-featuring two Harlem policemen. As with Himes's earlier work, the series is characterized by violence and grisly, sardonic humor. He died in Spain in 1984. See less
Chester Himes's Featured Books
Chester Himes book reviews
-
The Real Cool Killers
A Harlem Novel In Noir
From its beginnings in detective magazines and pulp fiction, American noir developed into literature of varied people and places. Chester Himes (1909 --1984) was one of the first African Americans to ... Read More
-
A Rage in Harlem
Harlem In Noir
Chester Himes' 1957 novel, "Rage in Harlem" offers a tough, unsentimental, and visceral look at the people, streets, and places of Harlem in the 1950s. His description of Harlem is detailed and ... Read More
-
If He Hollers Let Him Go
Great Author !! 10 Stars
by Token, Feb 2, 2009
This emotionally charged novel, written by Chester Himes, tells the true locked up feelings of an african american character, that we to this day somewhat, feel the same. Take a journey with Himes ... Read More
