Gerald Kersh
Encyclopedia
Gerald Kersh was a British
writer. Born in 1911, he began to write at the age of 8. After leaving school he worked as, amongst other things, a cinema manager, bodyguard, debt collector, fish & chip cook, travelling salesman, French teacher and all-in-wrestler whilst attempting to 'make it' as a writer.
He finally managed to get his first novel Jews Without Jehovah published in 1934 but in this autobiographical tale of growing up poor and Jewish he had not sufficiently concealed the identities of some of the characters and a member of his family sued for libel: as a result the book was quickly withdrawn. He had more luck with Night and the City
which was published in 1938 and has been filmed twice, most notably with Richard Widmark
in 1950 and then in 1992 with Robert De Niro
in the lead role (this version transposed the setting from London to New York). This story of Harry Fabian, a petty gangster and pimp on the make, displays Kersh's extensive knowledge of the London underworld.
It has been claimed that the 'ventriloquist's dummy' section of the famous British horror movie Dead of Night
was based on Kersh's story "The Extraordinarily Horrible Dummy", and documentation apparently exists to back this up (although Kersh did not receive screen credit).
Kersh was drafted into the army during the Second World War
, and ended up writing for the Army Film Unit. Despite apparently 'deserting' Kersh ended up in France during the liberation where he discovered that many of his French relatives had ended up in Hitler's extermination camps. After the war, Kersh continued to enjoy commercial success, mainly because of his short stories
, which range over, and sometimes combine, genres such as horror
, science fiction
, fantasy and the detective story
. From about the mid 1950s onwards he started to suffer from poor health, and he also ran into money troubles (specifically relating to his failure to pay income tax). However, Kersh continued to publish novels and stories, some of which were commercially and critically successful. In 1958, his short story "The Secret of the Bottle", originally published in The Saturday Evening Post
, received an Edgar Award
from the Mystery Writers of America
.
After his death in 1968 Kersh became deeply unfashionable and his work was almost completely forgotten. However in recent years there have been signs of a revival: in many ways he pioneered the British gangster
story, which has become fashionable again with such films as Guy Ritchie
's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
. Harlan Ellison
has stated that Kersh is his favourite author.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer. Born in 1911, he began to write at the age of 8. After leaving school he worked as, amongst other things, a cinema manager, bodyguard, debt collector, fish & chip cook, travelling salesman, French teacher and all-in-wrestler whilst attempting to 'make it' as a writer.
He finally managed to get his first novel Jews Without Jehovah published in 1934 but in this autobiographical tale of growing up poor and Jewish he had not sufficiently concealed the identities of some of the characters and a member of his family sued for libel: as a result the book was quickly withdrawn. He had more luck with Night and the City
Night and the City (novel)
Night and the City is the third novel by British author Gerald Kersh, published in 1938. It is a crime thriller set in 1930s London but also deals with social realism themes in the aftermath of the Great Depression.-Plot:...
which was published in 1938 and has been filmed twice, most notably with Richard Widmark
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark was an American film, stage and television actor.He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, Kiss of Death...
in 1950 and then in 1992 with Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
in the lead role (this version transposed the setting from London to New York). This story of Harry Fabian, a petty gangster and pimp on the make, displays Kersh's extensive knowledge of the London underworld.
It has been claimed that the 'ventriloquist's dummy' section of the famous British horror movie Dead of Night
Dead of Night
Dead of Night is a British portmanteau horror film made by Ealing Studios, its various episodes directed by Alberto Cavalcanti, Charles Crichton, Basil Dearden and Robert Hamer. The film stars Mervyn Johns, Googie Withers and Michael Redgrave...
was based on Kersh's story "The Extraordinarily Horrible Dummy", and documentation apparently exists to back this up (although Kersh did not receive screen credit).
Kersh was drafted into the army during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and ended up writing for the Army Film Unit. Despite apparently 'deserting' Kersh ended up in France during the liberation where he discovered that many of his French relatives had ended up in Hitler's extermination camps. After the war, Kersh continued to enjoy commercial success, mainly because of his short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, which range over, and sometimes combine, genres such as horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy and the detective story
Detective Story
Detective Story is a film noir which tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. It features Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell, Lee Grant, among others. The movie was adapted by Robert Wyler and Philip Yordan...
. From about the mid 1950s onwards he started to suffer from poor health, and he also ran into money troubles (specifically relating to his failure to pay income tax). However, Kersh continued to publish novels and stories, some of which were commercially and critically successful. In 1958, his short story "The Secret of the Bottle", originally published in The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
, received an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
from the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
.
After his death in 1968 Kersh became deeply unfashionable and his work was almost completely forgotten. However in recent years there have been signs of a revival: in many ways he pioneered the British gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
story, which has become fashionable again with such films as Guy Ritchie
Guy Ritchie
Guy Stuart Ritchie is an English screenwriter and film maker who directed Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Revolver, RocknRolla and Sherlock Holmes.-Early life:...
's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a 1998 British crime film directed and written by Guy Ritchie. The story is a heist film involving a self-confident young card sharp who loses £500,000 to a powerful crime lord in a rigged game of three card brag...
. Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
has stated that Kersh is his favourite author.
Works
- Jews without Jehovah (1934)
- Men Are So Ardent (1935)
- Night and the City (1938) (ISBN 0-7434-1304-0)
- I Got References (1939), stories
- The Nine Lives of Bill Nelson (1942)
- They Die with Their Boots Clean (1942)
- Brain and Ten Fingers (1943)
- Selected Stories (1943)
- The Dead Look On (1943)
- Faces in a Dusty Picture (1944)
- The Horrible Dummy and Other Stories (1944)
- The Weak and the Strong (1945)
- An Ape, a Dog and a Serpent (1945)
- Sergeant Nelson of the Guards (1945)
- Clean, Bright and Slightly Oiled (1946), stories
- Neither Man nor Dog: Short Stories (1946)
- Sad Road to the Sea (1947), stories
- The Song of the Flea (1948)
- Clock Without Hands (1949), stories
- The Thousand Deaths of Mr. Small (1951)
- The Brazen Bull (1952), stories
- Prelude to a Certain Midnight (1953) (ISBN 0-486-24536-5)
- The Great Wash (1953), The Secret Masters in USA
- The Brighton Monster and Other Stories (1953)
- Guttersnipe (1954), stories
- Men Without Bones (1955), stories
- Fowler's End (1958)
- On an Odd NoteOn an Odd NoteOn an Odd Note is a collection of short stories written by Gerald Kersh, published as a paperback original by Ballantine Books in 1958. No other editions were issued.-Contents:* "Seed of Destruction...
(1958), stories - Men Without Bones (US) (1960), stories
- The Ugly Face of Love and Other Stories (1960)
- The Best of Gerald Kersh (1960), edited by Simon RavenSimon RavenSimon Arthur Noël Raven was an English novelist, essayist, dramatist and raconteur who, in a writing career of forty years, caused controversy, amusement and offence...
- The Implacable Hunter (1961)
- More Than Once Upon a Time (1964), stories
- The Hospitality of Miss Tolliver (1965), stories
- A Long Cool Day in Hell (1966)
- The Angel and the Cuckoo (1966)
- Nightshade and Damnations (1968), stories, edited by Harlan EllisonHarlan EllisonHarlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
- Brock (1969)
- The Terrible Wild Flowers: Nine Stories (1980)
- Karmesin: The World's Greatest Criminal - or Most Outrageous Liar (2003), stories (ISBN 1-932009-03-5)
- The World, the Flesh, & the Devil: Fantastical Writings, Volume I (2006) (ISBN 1-55310-092-1)