It's Always Four O'Clock / Iron Man - Softcover

Burnett, W. R.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1933586249 ISBN 13: 9781933586243

Publisher: Stark House Press, 2009

Synopsis

IT'S ALWAYS FOUR O'CLOCK tells the story of a doomed jazz pianist, and IRON MAN presents the poignant rise and fall of a professional boxer.

About this title

About the Author

William Riley Burnett was born November 25, 1899 in Springfield, Ohio. Moving to Chicago in 1927, he developed an interest in gangsters which prompted him to write his first noir novel, Little Caesar, in 1929. Soon after that overnight success, Burnett moved to Los Angeles, eventually writing 36 novels including High Sierra and The Asphalt Jungle and 60 screenplays, as well as songs, plays and short stories. Nominated twice for an Academy Award, he received both the MWA Grand Master award and an O. Henry Memorial Award. Burnett died on April 25, 1982.

From the Back Cover

It's Always Four O'Clock (1956) is the story of a doomed jazz musician, and Iron Man (1930) tells the story of the rise and fall of a boxer.

From the Inside Flap

Its Always Four OClock When Stan first meets Royal Mauch, he isnt impressed. Hes digging the scene at the Treble Clef and Royal, this thin little guy two seats down, is so boiled he cant get his cigarette up to his mouth. But they start talking music, and Stan introduces him to Walt and Berte. And before you know it, with Royals unique arrangements, they have a jazz combo. But Royal is no ordinary jazz pianist--this guy plays from somewhere out there. Stan and Walt have a hard enough time just keeping up with him, and Bertewell, shes so in love with Walt, shes just happy to be the singer. And, man, some nights, they really soar! But it cant last. Because Berte is a woman with a mission, and Royal is a man with a past. Iron Man Coke Mason is a tough fighter. Hes got a great left hook, and he can take the punishment. His manager George Regan knows all his strengths and weaknesseshell, theyve known each other since they were kids--and uses them to his advantage to get Coke fired up before every fight. Coke is headed for the top. But hes got one weakness that Regan cant useCokes love for Rose, his manipulative wife. Rose has Coke twisted around her finger so tight, Coke cant see straight. But that doesnt bother Coke. Whatever Rose wants is okay with him. Until suave hustler Paul Lewis enters the scene, with a proposition of his own.

Reviews

Though Burnett helped change crime fiction with his first novel, Little Caesar (1929), and was famous as the writer of The Asphalt Jungle (1949) and the screenwriter of High Sierra (1941), he is not widely read today. Iron Man (1930), his second novel, tells the tale of dim-bulb boxer Coke Mason’s journey from happy contender to friendless middleweight champion. The arc will be predictable to modern readers, but it’s still full of great period detail and behind-the-scenes boxing dope. It’s Always Four o’Clock (1956), on the other hand, is a genuine find. (Interestingly, Burnett published it under a pen name, “James Updyke.”) Narrated by glib, digressive jazz guitarist Stan Pawley, it has a voice that jumps off the page—although it’s really the story of another character, mercurial musical genius Royal Mauch. Stan and Royal’s band becomes a nightclub success, but when their ladies’-man bass player becomes a solo star, Royal’s world crumbles. Masquerading as a hard-bop romp through nightclub L.A., it’s really a keen psychological portrait of the artist as a failed man. As always, this small publisher makes us wonder who else we’ve forgotten about. --Keir Graff

Edition details

• Publisher: Stark House Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1933586249
• ISBN 13: 9781933586243
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 296