The Mitt Man

by Mel Taylor

The Mitt Man begins with the picaresque tale of a small-time New Orleans hustler named King Fish. This man is better at preaching than picking pockets, but it is getting caught trying to lift the wallet of a wealthy white man that sets him on the path to his destiny -- a complex road that eventually leads him from the pulpit to the penitentiary. Once in jail, King Fish meets a brash young slickster from New York named Jimmie Lamar, and together they devise a sneaky swindle of the highest proportions.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1999

Reviews

[Barbara Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this book was finally published. I knew Melvin Taylor back in the seventies knew him well I even helped him type up the script of this book for the first time that was back in about 1973 maybe 74. As I was typing it I was reading it and it moved me. Melvin taught me a lot about black history and he was one of the kindest men I've ever known love the arts loved acting, and after all these decades, I've seen his work published. At the age of 70 I literally just googled the minutemen out of curiosity and bang there it was. I'm sorry to hear this passing he knew me when I studied ballet and then I dropped it for 45 years and just got back into it 3 years ago at the age 67. I am still at it now. I hope he's looking down at me now, not surprised, and smiling ear to ear. I also worked for his father in the jazz supper club that he had opened where I met many great musicians such as Erroll Garner, Blue Mitchell, Earl Coleman, to mention a few.

I will be buying a copy.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad I decided not to waste my time by reading the entire thing.