pabergin (pabergin@gte.net)
Mon, 8 Nov 1999 12:10:16 -0500
Saddened to hear of the death of Geo. V. Higgins. He created
three hard boiled masterpieces -- THE FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE,
THE DIGGER'S GAME and COGAN'S TRADE -- but then seemed to
just stop trying. Hard to say if he got lazy or started to
believe his own reviews, but his use of authentic-sounding
New England criminal patois degenerated fairly quickly into a
self-indulgence that bordered on self-parody. Even as early
as THE RAT ON FIRE (1980 or 81, I think) one can see the
decline. That book contained several scenes featuring Black
politicos/businessmen speaking in voices that are virtually
undistinguishable from those of the Italian/Irish mobsters
they're dealing with. It was probably easier and quicker to
write it that way, but authentic -- or convincing -- it
ain't.
Higgins was one of those guys I always hoped would regain the
panache that marked his early work, so I'd check up on him
from time to time. The last time was 3 or so years ago when I
picked up THE SINS OF THE FATHER. The book was totally
unreadable. His ear for criminal and/or New England working
class argot was gone completely, replaced by a sort of
private language that bore no resemblance whatever to spoken
English. It was gibberish, really, and it was hard to avoid
feeling embarrassed for the guy for having allowed the book
to be printed.
Still, he did some great work early on. There's no denying
that. PB
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