Books Update: Re-Working Our Crime, Spies & Sleaze Category: Hank Janson inc Heade covers Part 1
*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: We’re continuing to introduce the new layout for our books categories, with an image for each book. This week, we return to our Crime, Spies and Sleaze Category for the first part of our Hank Janson re-listing. This also features the famous cover artwork of Reginald Heade, the first part of a double feature on Heade this week. The most famous name in the post-war boom in British gangster ‘pulps’ (curiously, mostly set in the both seedy and glamorous USA) was Hank Janson. Written by ‘Hank’ and telling his adventures as a journalist and later general adventurer, these were in reality written by Stephen D Frances. These racy, tough and often violent detective novels of the 40s and 50s, generally published on a monthly basis, filled the gap formed when American pulp fiction was banned from the UK, and were immensely popular. (In fact they were so racy that author, publishers and distributors were prosecuted for obscenity in 1954). The earliest Jansons were generally published by New Fiction, and were almost exclusively blessed with Heade covers. The 1950s Alexander Moring imprint, with red and yellow stripes across the top of the cover either featured art by Heade, or produced in his style. Interestingly, many Alexander Moring publications have Heade covers that have been modified, usually by the addition of just enough clothing on the young ladies to avoid another prosecution for obscenity. The two Heade covers in this update, Accused and Conflict, are low grade copies, but even here the spectacular cover art stands out. Further information, including condition notes, in our catalogue. More Hank soon!
PICTURED: ALL BY HANK JANSON
ACCUSED New Fiction 1940s/50s UK PB FA £15
AVENGING NYMPH Alexander Moring 1958 1st UK PB VG £9
BEWITCHED Alexander Moring circa 1957 GD/VG £7
BRING ME SORROW Alexander Moring circa 1958 1st UK PB thus VG £9
CONFLICT New Fiction 1940s/50s UK PB FA £15