I have always thought Charles Williams did not get his due.
He did write a series of backwoods tramp novels for Gold
Medal in the 1950s. It was a very active sub-genre inspired
by the tremendous success of Erskine Caldwell in paperback.
Growing up in Georgia myself I always wished the Daisy Mae
tramps were as common in real life as in that type
novel.
In addition to Williams' generally excellent "bad woman gets
good man in trouble" novels, he also did some of the best
mysteries with a sailing background. They generally had
hardback publication. DEAD CALM is a good example. As the
novel was reprinted when the movie came out a few years ago,
I doubt there is any trouble with the estate on
republication.
The best thing on Williams I remember was an article in a
book edited by Jon Breen. It quotes Williams' agent (Don
Cogden?) as saying Williams committed suicide. He had spent
some time in Europe, I believe, where he did film work. I
think the article was by Ed Gorman.
Sorry to be so imprecise but I am an ocean away from my
collection in Alexandria, Virginia. Bill Crider also had an
article in the collection so perhaps he can supply the
particulars. The book is well worth seeking out as it covers
Peter Rabe, Whittington, Ed Lacy, as well as some of the more
celebrated writers from the 1950s.
Richard Moore
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