Pop. 1280
Encyclopedia
Pop. 1280 is a novel by Jim Thompson
(1906–1977). Although not in print at the time of his death (none of his work was), Pop. 1280 is part of Orion
's Crime Masterworks series, a testament to the gradual rehabilitation and recognition of Jim Thompson's literary legacy: a clear exposition of an especially bleak species of American hard-boiled crime fiction
. His writing exhibits the experimental stylistic
flourishes that aligns it with literary (versus genre
) fiction, and occasional surrealist episodes. As a novelist, Thompson was especially fond of unreliable narrator
s, and Pop. 1280 is an outstanding example of this.
of Pottsville County, the "47th largest county
in the state" (probably Texas
) with a population of "1280 souls" (a number much reduced by the story's end). The narrative suggests that Sheriff Nick's tale dates to the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Sheriff Nick Corey presents himself as a genial fool: simplistic, over-accommodating, and harmless to a fault (given he is Pottsville's sole lawman). Early chapters are related in a fine comic style representative of farce
rather than hard-boiled crime fiction. From the outset Nick's problems appear to be those of a harmless fool: managing his shrew
wife and idiot brother-in-law while simultaneously having affairs in town; a difficult election campaign against a more worthy candidate; negotiations with criminals and undesirables in Pottsville; and the evasion of work and physical exertion. Throughout a finely-structured narrative that plumbs psychological depths particular to the novels of Jim Thompson, the farcical tone of Pop. 1280 is undermined by the emergence of a man far more cunning, ruthless, and psychotic than he presents himself.
(1981), directed by Bertrand Tavernier
, set in French West Africa
in 1938.
Jim Thompson (writer)
James Myers Thompson was an American author and screenwriter, known for his pulp crime fiction....
(1906–1977). Although not in print at the time of his death (none of his work was), Pop. 1280 is part of Orion
Orion Publishing Group
Orion Publishing Group Ltd. is a UK-based book publisher. It is owned by Hachette Livre. In 1998 Orion bought Cassell.-History:Full history of the group can be found on Orion Publishing Group is owned by -Imprints:...
's Crime Masterworks series, a testament to the gradual rehabilitation and recognition of Jim Thompson's literary legacy: a clear exposition of an especially bleak species of American hard-boiled crime fiction
Crime fiction
Crime fiction is the literary genre that fictionalizes crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred...
. His writing exhibits the experimental stylistic
Style (fiction)
In fiction, style is the manner in which the author tells the story. Along with plot, character, theme, and setting, style is considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.-Fiction-writing modes:...
flourishes that aligns it with literary (versus genre
Genre fiction
Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, is a term for fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre....
) fiction, and occasional surrealist episodes. As a novelist, Thompson was especially fond of unreliable narrator
Unreliable narrator
An unreliable narrator is a narrator, whether in literature, film, or theatre, whose credibility has been seriously compromised. The term was coined in 1961 by Wayne C. Booth in The Rhetoric of Fiction. This narrative mode is one that can be developed by an author for a number of reasons, usually...
s, and Pop. 1280 is an outstanding example of this.
Plot
Pop. 1280 is the first-person narrative of Nick Corey, the listless sheriffSheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Pottsville County, the "47th largest county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
in the state" (probably Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) with a population of "1280 souls" (a number much reduced by the story's end). The narrative suggests that Sheriff Nick's tale dates to the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Sheriff Nick Corey presents himself as a genial fool: simplistic, over-accommodating, and harmless to a fault (given he is Pottsville's sole lawman). Early chapters are related in a fine comic style representative of farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
rather than hard-boiled crime fiction. From the outset Nick's problems appear to be those of a harmless fool: managing his shrew
Shrew
A shrew or shrew mouse is a small molelike mammal classified in the order Soricomorpha. True shrews are also not to be confused with West Indies shrews, treeshrews, otter shrews, or elephant shrews, which belong to different families or orders.Although its external appearance is generally that of...
wife and idiot brother-in-law while simultaneously having affairs in town; a difficult election campaign against a more worthy candidate; negotiations with criminals and undesirables in Pottsville; and the evasion of work and physical exertion. Throughout a finely-structured narrative that plumbs psychological depths particular to the novels of Jim Thompson, the farcical tone of Pop. 1280 is undermined by the emergence of a man far more cunning, ruthless, and psychotic than he presents himself.
Adaptations
Pop. 1280 was adapted as the French film Coup de TorchonCoup de Torchon
Coup de Torchon is a 1981 French film adaptation of Jim Thompson's 1964 novel Pop. 1280, directed by Bertrand Tavernier. The film follows the novel relatively faithfully, but changes its setting from a West Texas boom town to a small town in French West Africa.-Plot:Lucien Cordier is an...
(1981), directed by Bertrand Tavernier
Bertrand Tavernier
Bertrand Tavernier is a French director, screenwriter, actor, and producer.-Life and career:Tavernier was born in Lyon, the son of Geneviève and René Tavernier, a publicist and writer, several years president of the French PEN club. Tavernier wanted to become a filmmaker since the age of thirteen...
, set in French West Africa
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
in 1938.