The Private Wound

Cecil Day Lewis (1904-1972) was a praised British author that wrote crime-fiction and melodramas from 1935 through 1968 using the pseudonym Nicholas Blake. His most popular work was the Golden Age of Detective Fiction star Nigel Strangeways, a private-detective that appeared in sixteen novels between 1935-1966. My first experience with the author is coincidentally his last career effort, a poignant period-piece titled The Private Wound. It was originally published in hardcover by Collins in 1968 and then in paperback by Dell in 1970 and again by Penguin in 1975.

The book is set in Ireland during the summer of 1939. In first-person perspective, a 30 year-old British author named Dominic Eyre has arrived in the fictional rural village of Charlottestown. His car has broken down on the highway so he receives a suggestion to stay the night at the town's small hotel. Later, Dominic meets with the colorful villagers and is smitten with a young married woman nicknamed Harry (real name Harriet). Dominic explains that he is searching for a quiet summer in the country to finish his manuscript. After a tour of a nearby farm, Dominic is offered a rental of a small cottage and accepts.

There's a close-knit group of characters that consistently become an intimate part of Dominic's life. Of the males, there's former veteran and tough-nosed farmer Flurry, Harry's husband. Harry learns of Flurry's rugged war efforts and a revenge mission he took upon himself to torture and kill some evildoers. The melodrama and lofty feel of the narrative is sliced in two with this scene evidencing Flurry's violent nature. But, Flurry is an alright guy and one of my favorite characters in recent memory. There's also Flurry's brother Sean who is making a political climb. Also, a local priest that often interviews Dominic about his life and future ambitions. On the female side is Sean's wife Maire, a hardworking woman who wants the best for everyone. 

Then there is Harry.

Harry immediately takes to Dominic and the two begin a summer affair. They make love on the cool grass by the river and then nearly every other day in various locations throughout the village. Oddly enough, Dominic quickly realizes that Harry has claims to many of the village men. She also has no regrets and insists that Flurry either doesn't care what she does or, truth be known, he loves her so much that he wants her to be happy no matter who, or what, she occupies her time with. Dominic falls in line. But, one evening Harry is found stabbed to death on the riverbank and fingers point to Dominic. 

This was one of the best books literary books I've read. It's clear that Lewis was writing his send-off novel, his final effort before leaving this world. The final pages of the book were just so unique and left me with that emotional “ah-ha" moment that is hard to duplicate. The book's last few pages were stylish and changes the narrative and the feel of the character to a degree. However, getting to that point was just such a pleasure. Lewis writes dialogue with a smooth prose that tells the story. Additionally, the author weaves in some premonition regarding the upcoming war, Hitler's rise to power, and the IRA-Protestant troubles. 

I can't help but connect The Private Wound with Patrick Kavanagh's 1944 Irish poem, the basis for one of my favorite songs of all-time - “Raglan Road” (preferably Van Morrison/Chieftains). The song pairs well with the book and I probably played it 20 times throughout my page flipping. If you are looking for a moving crime-fiction melodrama then look no further than The Private Wound. Highest possible recommendation. Get your copy HERE. 

Let's Play a Game Show

Let's play a game show! On this exciting new book shopping video, Eric transforms the book shelves, covers, and pricing into a fun interactive game show. You'll be guessing the name of the book and the price through a series of entertaining questions sure to boggle the minds of book collectors, readers, and fans of Paperback Warrior. View below or directly on YouTube HERE.

Dead Man's Shoes

John Innes Mackintosh Stewart (1906-1994) was a Scottish author mostly known by his pseudonym Michael Innes. His contribution to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction is immense considering the longevity of his title character, Detective Inspector Sir John Appleby. The character first appeared in the 1936 novel Death at the President's Lodging, aka Seven Suspects. My discovery of the character was in a recent book acquisition titled Best Detective Stories, edited by Edmund Crispin, and published in 1959 by Faber and Faber. The 60-page story is “Dead Man's Shoes”, which also appears in the 1954 short-story collection of the same name, also known as Appleby Talking. 

The story begins with a London attorney boarding an early morning departure by train. A woman in dire need of help struggles to breathe as she explains she just experienced a strange confrontation with another man. In her account, she states she boarded the train earlier and there was a man sitting across from her wearing two different shoes – one brown and one black. The man seemed suspicious and became quite alarmed when he noticed she had spotted his mismatched footwear. As the train came to a stop she was certain he was going to attack her. 

The attorney questions her account and prompts her to consider the event in the past and no harm occurred. Later, the attorney reads in the newspaper that a man with mismatched shoes was found dead upon the rocks near a seawall. He reports the woman's account to the police and Appleby becomes involved in the case.

This was a captivating narrative with a smooth prose that possesses the sterile-dry British flavor, but also an enjoyable charming quality that nods to Sherlock Holmes (even mentioning Watson by name). Appleby is easy to like – a by-the-books detective that knows the killer from any 'ole trivial clue (lipstick on cigarettes for example). The investigation into the man's past, his strange bodyguard, and the two train passengers consume the pages in breezy dialogue.

If the Appleby novels are as good as this story then I need to bump them up a few stacks. I enjoyed this story and look forward to more of this character.

Get the Appleby books HERE.

The First Fast Draw

The First Fast Draw, give or take a book, was Louis L'Amour's 20th career full-length. The novel was first published by Bantam in 1959 and then numerous printings since then in both paperback and collector's hardcover. 

Cullen Baker has just returned to his childhood home in Bowie County, Texas after years of living in the wild frontier of American's western territories. The old homeplace lies in a dense jungle of swamp that has nearly eroded Baker's small farm. But, his biggest threat comes by way of the Reconstruction, an aggressive movement by the Union to regulate and reestablish the Southern states after America's bloody Civil War. Baker, a former Confederate soldier, left the War prematurely after disagreements with the leadership and nature of the South's tactics. 

Trying to turn the homeplace back into a farm comes with many obstacles including the aggressive regulators, bullies from Baker's past, and a hard-headed land grabber named Barlow. But, Baker also finds love in the arms of a woman named Katy, who draws a number of fast gunmen wishing to court her. 

After taking a number of beatings Baker eventually begins practicing a fast draw day and night. His smooth lightning prowess with a gun may be his only advantage against the overwhelming odds forcing him into a fight. Thankfully, Baker finds a few allies that join his side for the fight. L'Amour throws in a series of tumbles including numerous gunfights, a jailbreak, an attempted hanging, and lots of dialogue about this unusual time in American history. 

The First Fast Draw is drawn loosely from the life of real outlaw “Wild” Bill Longley. L'Amour's storytelling, although often repetitive, is brimming over with details about the outdoors, this swampy area of Texas, U.S. History, and the details concerning a handful of characters. My only real problem with the book was the number of characters. I had a difficult time remembering which side some of the characters were on. Beyond that, The First Fast Draw is a breezy and enjoyable reading experience. Get it HERE.

Ranking March Reads

In this new video Eric ranks his reads from March and recaps all of the exciting content posted on the various Paperback Warrior outlets. Included are recaps of podcast episodes, videos, and book covers complete with capsule reviews. Stream below or on the YouTube channel HERE.

Congo

Athwill William Baker (1925-1991) was an Irish author, editor, and publisher that used the pseudonyms W. Howard Baker, W.A. Ballinger, Peter Saxon, and Sexton Blake to write series titles like The Guardians, Sexton Blake, Danger Man, and Jonathan Quintain. I've amassed a collection of his books and I'm slowly working my way through them. I decided to try his action-adventure novel Congo, originally published as a Mayflower Original paperback in 1970.

The book begins with General Alphonse of the Force Publique, one of the vilest villains in my recent memory, arriving at a small village in the Congo Free State. They begin a brutal slaughter and systematically begin raping every female. A young American girl named Kristine is there working as a nurse to assist Father Julian. She is raped repeatedly by Alphonse's men and left to die. Thankfully, she survives and manages to crawl to a river and get help from an old man.

The book's protagonist, Hugo Norcott, arrives outside of this terror zone to interview for a mercenary job. The Province of Katanga, an independent state, is expecting an invasion by General Alphonse and Force Publique. They want Norcott to lead a group of mercenaries into a nearby province to retrieve four trucks filled with weapons and a few armored cars and jeeps. This equipment will be valuable to them and can help repel this anticipated invasion alongside the mercenaries assistance. Norcott signs the dotted line because he's there for cash. No allegiance – just the cabbage. 

Congo proves to be a reliable action-filled narrative that reads like a slightly more technical version of a Ralph Hayes/Peter McCurtin Soldier of Fortune installment. Norcott gets the gig and begins to whip up his mercenary force – the unexperienced – into a formidable fighting unit. The mission eventually spins back to Kristine's survival as she is caught in the crossfire between the arriving Force Publique rapist madmen (again!) and Norcott's saving grace. The goal to get to the weapons and get back is a perilous road trip packed with adventure.

The most interesting aspect to Congo is the book's central purpose – the question of divinity. There's an amazing subtext concerning a village priest and his staying power to remain with his people as as the slaughter descends. There's heinous torture involved to provoke the priest to denounce his faith. The priest and Norcott have a number of conversations around God and why things like the Force Publique even exist under His watchful eyes. The book's final chapters has one of the most unique endings I've experienced in a men's action-adventure novel. Norcott is forced to make a crucial decision based on the priest's unwavering faith. At times these scenes remind me of the real-life events documented in John Foxe's excellent Book of Martyrs (1563).

Congo is an excellent book that not only entertains but also leaves you questioning a lot of things. A book that makes you feel something is always a good read. This one is recommended.

You can get many Ballinger books HERE.

Paperback Warrior Podcast - Episode 117

The Paperback Warrior sets their investigate eye on the mysteriously named publishing phenom simply referred to as "The Stratemeyer Syndicate". Will courage and curiosity overcome the Warrior when he faces danger and peril reviewing the haunted happenings of "The Secret of Terror Castle"? Also in this exciting edition is an investigation of mysterious events happening on the moon and a madman stalking a Texas football game. Listen to this retro-themed episode today! Stream below or download HERE. You can also listen on YouTube HERE.

Listen to "Episode 117: The Stratemeyer Syndicate" on Spreaker.