The Free-Lance Pallbearers

By Ishmael Reed

Book Overview

Ishmael Reed's electrifying first novel zooms readers off to the crazy, ominous kingdom of HARRY SAM a miserable and dangerous place ruled for thirty years by Harry Sam, a former used car salesman who wields his power from his bathroom throne. In a land of a thousand contradictions peopled by cops and beatniks, black nationalists and white liberals, the crusading Bukka Doopeyduk leads a rebellion against the corrupt Sam in a wildly uproarious and scathing satire, earning the author the right to be dubbed the brightest contributor to American satire since Mark Twain (The Nation).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564782255
• ISBN13: 9781564782250
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Dalkey Archive Press
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Good Service but bad book

the quality of the book i received was brand new and speedy delivery, but don't read this book, its just awful and stupid.

Unforgettable

I read this book as a teenager in the 80's and never forgot it. I often end up telling everyone I know about it eventually. I decided to use a search engine to find the name of the author and was surprised to learn the name and a little about the writer Ishmael Reed. I plan to buy a second copy and donate it to the library. This book is hilarious. The main thing is that it introduced me to the satire genre. my own sense of humor is similar. I am encouraged as a wannabe writer.

A very funny satire

This book is a wonderful satire of race relations in the sixties. It is also extremely funny. I often found myself laughing out loud as I was reading it. It provides a nice contrast with much of the African-American literature from this time period. Its style is a bit intimidating at first, but after a few pages it becomes easy reading. I highly recommend checking it out.