Ted Lewis Hard or Soft Boiled Paperback – 1 Jan. 2017

A biography of the late, great British noir (mostly) author.Ted wrote Jack's Return Home, that the film Get Carter was based on, but aside from this he was also a talented artist (he was the chief artist for The Beatles' film Yellow Submarine) and a jazz musician.He was also a womaniser, smoked like a train and drank himself to death aged 42!He was well liked though.The book itself is very short (52 pages) but provides us with a good outline of what Ted was like and what he accomplished in his short years. There's plenty of photos and a map included, which comes separate to the book as a pull out, detailing some of Ted's old haunts... You know, if you wanted to follow in his footsteps etc.It's well written and concisely edited, if rather brief.I believe there is another, full on biography, by Nick Triplow due to come out at some point soon.And there was also some American bloke allegedly doing one but he seems to have just taken loads of material from Ted's close friends and family, and then disappeared!There are a few reveals in this, including the true identity of the possible inspiration of the 'J' character, the hitman at the (beginning and) end of Get Carter (the film not the book, the book ends differently..).Ted wrote:All the Way Home and All the Night Through (1965) - A kitchen sinker, partially based on his own experiences as a young jazz musician and womaniser.Jack's Return Home (1970) - A British crime classic, story used for the film Get Carter ('71), Hit Man ('72) and Get Carter - remake (2000).Plender (1971) - British noir, story used for the film The Serpent ('07).Billy Rags (1973) - British crime, very similar to the film McVicar.Jack Carter's Law (1974) - Ted continued the (earlier) exploits of his most lucrative creation, Jack Carter.The Rabbit (1975) - Another growing up tale of northern drama and kitchen sinkery.Boldt (1976) - US set crime thriller.Jack Carter and the Mafia Pigeon (1977) - Another Carter follow up.GBH (1980) - A disturbingly dark crime thriller, about a nasty London kingpin being hunted down by certain associates and losing his mind as a result. Possibly Ted's best book.

I read this at one sitting and it is an excellent introduction to a writer that, for me, has always remained an enigma. I am glad that someone has taken the time to research his life and his work and his general background. To many Ted Lewis is the author of 'Jack's Return Home'. That was the novel that made him and brought him to prominence, but also, seemed to evoke a lot of problems that marred his later life. His later novels had never made the same impact as the Jack Carter novels, but the work he did leave behind has now gained a new following.Mr Martin has given us an insight into Ted's life. It is a short biography but for me, it filled in so many voids. I have read 6 of Ted Lewis' 9 novels and when he died in 1982, he passed away without any mention. It was only twenty years ago that I did learn of his death, and was sorry that he passed on at the age of just 42. Alcoholism has destroyed so many great talents and, alas, Ted Lewis was one of them.I found this book interesting and captivating. And I'm glad I bought it. For me it gave me so many answers about Ted's life.I read that two authors were going to write a biography about Ted Lewis, but this seems to have fallen through. I hope that Mr Martin extends and builds upon the foundation that he has written. It would certainly be of great value to anyone who appreciates the work of Ted Lewis.

For a small book this packs in so much information about Ted Lewis. It is clearly written by a scholar who has done his research thoroughly.My wife knew Lewis well as they went to Barton Grammar school & were in the same class. They were friends in school & kept in touch after school through Henry Treece (their English teacher at Barton). Communication continued for some years after Treece died through MaryTreece. The last time Lewis and my wife met was at a school reunion when they were aged 40yrs. Lewis died not long after this event.Lewis was multi talented, sadly wasted through alcohol addiction as is well recorded.

Short but informative account of a life that was itself short, but loaded with meaning in terms of the new British School of Noir,which he did so much to create.

A sad but interesting story