The Harder They Come

by Michael Thelwell

Book Overview

Like the acclaimed film of the same title, this lyrical, lilting, densely textured novel is based on the exploits of the legendary Jamaican folk hero and reggae star Rhygin. With passion and precision, Michael Thelwell recounts Rhygin's journey from a morally coherent rural universe to the teeming, predatory slums of Kingston, his rebellion against the poverty and corruption of postcolonial Jamaica, his blazing, simultaneous rise to the top of the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0394175999
• ISBN13: 9780394175997
• Release Date: April 1980
• Publisher: Random House Trade
• Length: 399 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.

Customer Reviews

"Opreshan is only fe a season"

Whoa, finished reading it last night, and can't yet bear to loan it to anyone. The book itself is alive, with ooh, such rich rich language, such a dedicated finely crafted narrative down to the last line. Want to re-read and quote passages. The humming vital poetic deep ironic language of Jamaican is such a vital tonic to the world's brew of what we must know. And I too, found this book, dusty, in an eccentric venue, while having a conversaion about Perry Henzell (who made the movie.) Aha! Synchronous grace. And thought "hmm..what's this?" I'd just read Perry Henzell's "Power Game", which was pretty cool. But this is a masterpiece. (It would be wildly amusingly great if it were required reading for anyone travelling to Jamaica. Just so you know wha's up. Look and feel deeply into things.) May the reader like Sidney in the book: "Praises to Jah, Pedro exulted silently. Sidney fin' 'im heart."

the best!!!!!!!!

i found this book for sale at my local library. i fell in love with it. i have been looking for books with an island theme, vocabulary and life. this book covered them all and more. the language(easy for me to read becuase i am a caribbean native)was written and express exactly as we speak. i loved the book. the story kept delivering and there was no chance to get bored. action, love, revenge, hatred, greed, money, family all is represented in this exceptional book. if you get the opportunity please read, it is a must. and when your finished reading the book se the movie. it delivers.

THTC - A Must For Those Into Jamaican Culture/Folklore

This book is a treasure that I happened to come across in a 'discount bin' at a bookstore - but like so many of the books that are greatly reduced in price, this one is truly priceless . . . I have always been interested in Jamaican culture and society, and just finished reading Timothy White's 'Catch a Fire - The Life of Bob Marley' which was the perfect way to get in the mindset for Michael Thelwell's masterpiece 'The Harder They Come.' This book is not simply a tale of the legendary Rhygin who was a hero of the common Jamaican sufferah, but also a glimpse into the life of Jamaicans following the period of British colonial rule - So many themes are present in the novel - the contrast between country and city, the traditions and myths of those living in the bush, the hand to mouth existence of so many Jamaican poor that live in Kingston, the power struggle of politics and law, as well as the ganja trade which somehow effects all Jamaicans . . . This book will immerse you in Jamaican culture, and I'm not talking about the resorts on the coast - this is the real deal and is a must read!

Fantastic third world story

Not a cheap novelization, but a work with its own life. Unforgettable story about Babylon and its impact upon the poor of Jamaica. If you are a fan of the movie, or if you are not, this is a good one for you.

A novelization of the movie, improving upon its excellence

One of my favorite books. A beautiful extension of both the soundtrack and the movie. I read it out loud to my then girlfriend now wife each night for a month trying to get the language right