The Kid Was a Killer

by Caryl Chessman

Remember: The protagonist of the story, the kid, was a killer. That was and is the simple, stark fact; that was and remains my point in authoring the type of novel I did. I wanted to examine violence-its meaning, its psychological roots, its social implications-in dramatic terms. If I succeeded to any degree, the thrust and power of the story derives from its rawness, its unprettied crudities. The title squares with the unfortunate tendency of the public to oversimplify both the genesis and motivation of the disturbed, antisocial personality which, whether with a gun or boxing gloves, violently expresses its rebellion, its sickness. Let the reader, without being misled, discover for himself my thesis.

Sincerely,

Caryl Chessman

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Caryl Whittier Chessman was a convicted robber, kidnapper and rapist who was sentenced to death for a series of crimes committed in January 1948 in the Los Angeles area. The "first modern American executed for a non-lethal kidnapping", Chessman was convicted under a loosely interpreted "Little Lindbergh law" – later repealed, but not retroactively – that defined kidnapping as a capital offense under certain circumstances. His case attracted worldwide attention, and helped propel the movement to abolish capital punishment in California.

While in prison, Chessman authored four books, including his memoirs Cell 2455, Death Row. The book was adapted for the screen in 1955 and stars William Campbell as Chessman.

Reviews

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’è ’sta promessa del pugilato che mentre si prepara per un incontro importante viene scamazzato di mazzate da un tipo sconosciuto che entra in palestra e lo affronta sul ring.

Cercano in tutti i modi di risalire all’identità dello sconosciuto.

Partirà a questo punto una toccante descrizione di alcuni momenti di vita vissuta.

Non è difficile capire quanto lo scrittore si immedesimi nelle “gesta” del protagonista di questo romanzo.

Caryl Chessman scrive dal carcere, un po’ a la Edward Bunker, ma Edward Bunker ci uscirà dal carcere vivo, lo stesso di Caryl Chessman, il San Quentin, ma Chessman ci uscirà solo dopo che gli avranno inflitto la pena di morte.

Bellissimo (il libro! Non il fatto che gli abbiano inflitto la pena di morte…)

[Filipa Barreiros · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read in my entire life, it was so intense that after finish it, I missed his reading right away, the all context his smooth writing….everything I loved it!