Paperback edition of Night And The City by Gerald Kersh BY London Books
London Classics edition of Gerald Kersh‘s classic London novel Night & The City.
‘We are looking to raise £3,000 to crowdfund the production of a high quality paperback edition of the iconic London novel ‘Night And The City’ By Gerald Kersh.
“The story of damaged men in damaged times” Iain Sinclair
A Classic Of British Literature & Film
Harry Fabian is a cockney wide boy trying to make it big in the Soho underworld of the 1930s. He is a Flash Harry in an expensive suit, a chancer operating in a cosmopolitan corner of the city where villains, spivs, prostitutes and strong-arm men thrive. But his ambition and reckless nature are pushing him towards more and more extreme acts – and a day of reckoning.
Night And The City is a classic work of social-realist fiction that captures the vibrant yet seedy underbelly of London between the world wars. Its author Gerald Kersh was high-profile, prolific and hugely popular at his peak, but would later drift into hardship and obscurity. His writing is now being rediscovered. A maverick character in his own right, Kersh’s life was as colourful as those of his most flamboyant creations.
As well as a respected novel, Night And The City was twice filmed – in 1950 and 1992 – and it is the first of these adaptations that is today regarded as one of the best of the British film-noir genre. Directed by Jules Dassin and starring Richard Widmark and Googie Withers, it was shot in an urban landscape heavy with menace and charm – just like the book on which it was based.
This version will include a new, specially commissioned introduction by Paul Duncan, who is working on a biography of Gerald Kersh, and an afterword by John King of London Books.
“An understated literary classic” – The Guardian
“A gem” – Time Out
Risks and challenges
We are looking to produce a high quality paperback edition of this classic novel. By crowdfunding we can ensure a high quality end product. We are experienced book publishers and confident that we can achieve the target publication date of December 2019, but as with any publishing project there is a small risk that this date will not be achieved.
With Kickstarter the money is only deducted from your account if, as we hope, we reach the £3,000 target. If we are successful, it will be deducted only once the project has closed.’