Reputation? White is considered by some to be the originator of the
caper/heist novel, or at least one of its leading practitioners. He
wrote one truly oustanding book, CLEAN BREAK, which was the basis for
the Kubrick movie "The Killing." All his other books that I've read are
lesser, and almost all are marred by the presence of low-grade racism
and White's peculiar love of rape scenes clearly written with the
intention of titillating the reader. (Worst of all when the two
combine, with a hulking Mexican rapist, etc.)
My personal opinion is that he was a B-to-B+ paperback writer, better
than average but well below the level (in terms of originality, impact,
and quality) of a Goodis or a Woolrich, never mind a Chandler, Hammett
or Cain.
Charles
--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, "susanlester102" <hedyjwhite@...>
wrote:
>
> I would appreciate any information about the reputation of Lionel
White (1905-1985).
>
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