- Blurb -
A unique crime classic: the very first detective novel written by an African-American, set in 1930s New York with only black characters. When the body of N' Gana Frimbo, the African conjure-man, is discovered in his consultation room, Perry Dart, one of Harlem' s ten black police detectives, is called in to investigate. Together with Dr Archer, a physician from across the street, Dart is determined to solve the baffling mystery, helped and hindered by Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins, local boys keen to clear themselves of suspicion of murder and undertake their own investigations. The Conjure-Man Dies was the very first detective novel written by an African-American. A distinguished doctor and accomplished musician and dramatist, Rudolph Fisher was one of the principal writers of the Harlem Renaissance, but died in 1934 aged only 37. With a gripping plot and vividly drawn characters, Fisher' s witty novel is a remarkable time capsule of one of the most exciting eras in the history of black fiction. This crime classic is introduced by New York crime writer Stanley Ellin, and includes Rudolph Fisher' s last published story, ' John Archer' s Nose' , in which Perry Dart and Dr Archer return to solve the case of a young man murdered in his own bed.
- Titles in the Series -
Paddington Mystery, The
A Voice Like Velvet
Below the Clock
Bravo of London, The
Conjure-Man Dies, The
Crime Club, The
Deductions of Colonel Gore, The
Grell Mystery, The
Middle Temple Murder, The
Millionaire Mystery, The
Murder in the Bookshop
Mystery of the Skeleton Key, The
Mystery of the Yellow Room, The
Rogues' Syndicate, The: The Maelstrom
Shop Window Murders, The
- Reviews -
' Highly readable, wholly entertaining. ' -Stanley Ellin' A well-constructed thriller of a little-known side of Harlem life, with a Black detective to solve the crime and with just enough humour on the side. ' -Rumana McManis, New York Times' A detective story of the first class, written with adroitness, humor, and a clever plot. ' -Boston Transcript' . . . a puzzling mystery yarn which is at the same time a lively picture of Harlem. . . ' -New York Times' Captures the historically induced unique qualities of Black people. ' -Oliver Henry, The Harlem Renaissance' As far as crime fiction goes, The Conjure-Man Dies gets down and dirty in a style more in the American hardboiled fashion than the British country house fashion. And it does seem likely that Fisher, besides reading Agatha Christie, read Dashiell Hammett and other early hardboiled writers. ' -L. A. Review of Books
- Author Bio -
One of the premier writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Rudolph Fisher wrote stories depicting the multifaceted black urban experience that are still acclaimed today for their humor, grace, and objective view of Harlem life. Through his words, wrote the New York Times Book Review, ' one feels, smells, and tastes his Harlem; its people come alive and one cares about them. '
- Full Details -
Status: | Active |
ISBN-13: | 9780008216474 |
Published: | 2 Dec 2020 |
Published In: | United Kingdom |
Imprint: | Collins Crime Club |
Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers |
Format: | Paperback |
Height: | 198mm |
Width: | 129mm |
Weight: | 270g |
Pages: | 304 |
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