The woman chaser [Paperback]

Charles Ray Willeford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1960

Richard Hudson, ex-used car salesman and manipulator of attractive women, is a 1950s middle class underground man who understands that his life is a walking allegory for American culture. "The Woman Chaser is Willeford's best book".--The Village Voice.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Newsstand Library Inc; Pilot ed edition (1960)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0007I14JQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fascinating yet nasty piece of literature.., July 22, 2003

By 

lazza (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Woman Chaser (Paperback)

I have read several novels by Charles Willeford. His latter works from the 1980s, such as Miami Blues, are a blend of crime/humour with a south Florida setting ... stuff that I like. His earlier works from the 1960s/1970s, such as Cockfighter, are rather broodingly serious pieces ... stuff that I don't like. The Woman Chaser is a very early piece from Willeford, written in 1960. To my surprise it is by a wide margin the best of Willeford I've read.

Firstly, The Woman Chaser is not about chasing women. The story is actually about a rather cruel, warped used car salesman who wants to break into films. He abuses everyone to achieve his goal. While this might sound like a trite story Willeford structures it very cleverly, and it is written in the style of Jim Thompson ... in the first person with brutal language. Fortunately the book is not too depressing, and at times there is some humour.

Bottom line: a terrific little book by Willeford. A must read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great American Noir, July 28, 2002

By 

John L. Sheppard (Round Lake Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Woman Chaser (Paperback)

Charles Willeford wrote psychopaths better than any sane man should. This book--written, I believe, when he was still in the Air Force--is an examination of a soulless car salesman who wants to create something more permanent. Something lasting. And decides on making a misanthropic movie that will shock and shame the audience. A great, if not THE great, American novel.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable book: a quick read, tightly paced "noir-lite", June 4, 2002

By 

Greg Simon (Fallbrook, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Woman Chaser (Paperback)

Without revealing the plot (!)---The main character is a gritty used-car salesman par excellence, and the storyline deals with him becoming aware of his life's limitations, and his subsequent response to this wake-up call for greater meaning. Ironically, the book is not about a woman chaser, per se...

Willeford uses his main character's view to point out a number of human failings, and the brisk plotline and well-developed supporting cast are more than willing to reveal some of life's bitter ironies. The result is an enjoyable and quick read, filled with tinges of sarcasm and understated dark humor.