In this collection of conversations, Nelson Algren reveals himself with all the gruff humour, deflating insight, honesty, and critical brilliance that marked his career. He discusses everything from his childhood to his compulsion to write to his relationship with Simon de Beauvoir.[...]

The first recipient of the National Book Award presents a haunting yet lyrical portrait of 1930s New Orleans, complete with the hustlers, bootleggers, and prostitutes that frequented Perdido Street in the French Quarter. Reprint.[...]

Tells the story of Frankie Machine, the golden arm dealer at a back street Chicago gambling den. Frankie reckons he's a tough guy in the Chicago underworld but finds that he's not tough enough to kick his heroin addiction.[...]