A cool, cruel, rediscovered classic of American noir in which
a ruthless conman who preys on the wealthy and the weak finally
meets his match when he teams up with a beautiful female
psychologist
Now a major motion picture, directed by Guillermo del Toro
Nightmare Alley was American writer William Lindsay Gresham's
first book, and was a bestseller, subsequently adapted into a film
in 1947. The novel was in part inspired by conversations Gresham
had with a former sideshow employee whom he befriended while
volunteering during the Spanish Civil War.
Gresham followed Nightmare Alley with one further piece of fiction,
and three works of non-fiction, but was unable to replicate the
success of his debut. Gresham married three times, and his second
wife, the poet and novelist Joy Davidman later (on her death bed)
became the wife of British author C.S. Lewis. An early adopter of
Scientology, which he later denounced, Gresham overcame his
alcoholism via Alcoholics Anonymous but struggled with his mental
health. Facing a diagnosis of terminal cancer, he committed suicide
in 1962. In his pocket were found business cards reading, 'No
Address. No Phone. No Business. No Money. Retired.'
More than just a steamy noir classic. As a portrait of the human
condition, Nightmare Alley is a creepy, all-too-harrowing
masterpiece
*Washington Post*
Along with The Grapes of Wrath and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?,
this is a great American Depression-era novel. Read and shudder.
And relish
*Guardian*
A brilliant and horrific book
*The Times*
The ‘nightmare’ of the title rings true, for this delirious and
unstoppable novel ... inverts the American dream ... Never was noir
more autobiographical than here… Nightmare Alley remains a
masterpiece
*Los Angeles Times*
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