A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

Published in 1956, but peopled with whores and tramps drawn from the New Orleans of the 1930s, this novel is considered a classic. Tragically, it sounds like one. Algren is a gifted writer and a great populist, but he sure does find a lot of good hearts on the wrong side of the tracks. Barrett Whitener underscores our growing disbelief by chewing up the scenery. Whitener never says "Howdy" without wringing a pint of molasses out of the word. Less is sometimes more. And yet this remains an important work. Algren is a crucial link in the muckraking tradition of American letters. He's a man of the people. He's a voice for the voiceless. The Russell Banks introduction brought this listener to tears. B.H.C. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]