The Mitt Man
A tale of two holy-rolling, rough-living African-American hustlers, this strong debut novel about people in our social underbelly first casts a dark gaze on the racism and amorality of New Orleans in the 1920s. Book One of Taylor's two-part work chronicles the rise and fall of King Fish, a small-fry pickpocket and scoundrel. After botching an opportunity to relieve fire and brimstone preacher Rev. Malcolm Cage of his money, King Fish is convinced by Cage to become a preacher himself. King Fish marries and settles down, thanking Providence for his new life, but his wrath boils over when a white man molests his wife; he kills the redneck and is sentenced to the state penitentiary. Book Two picks up in 1944, when Harlem-trained bad boy Jimmie Lamar heads South for Mardi Gras after a spat with his slick and bossy hustler girlfriend, Masaya; arrogantly pulling off a card-shark trick, he runs afoul of the racist police. He is railroaded into prison, where he meets the aging King Fish, who takes Jimmie as his protege, convincing him to become a preacher upon his release. Lamar, despite his new piety, still has a few get-rich-quick schemes up his sleeve, but his reunion with Masaya, who is dying, proves his salvation. Though the tone here is one of detached resignation, it is occasionally broken by moments of bitterly wrought, affecting emotion. Taylor's knowledge of the hustler's art adds a gritty authenticity, and he shows a fine understanding of the society that produces such desperate men, and chances for redemption that occasionally occur. Agent: Pam Bernstein.Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.