First published 1987
This appears to be a physical condition description rather than story content for Nelson Algren's novel about Bruno Bicek, a young Polish-American boxer in 1930s Chicago. Bruno dreams of prizefighting success but gets trapped between his ambitions and the harsh realities of neighborhood life. He becomes involved with Steffi, a local girl whose fate becomes entangled with his own poor choices. As Bruno navigates the world of small-time criminals, corrupt cops, and broken dreams, he faces consequences that threaten to destroy both his boxing career and his relationships. The novel explores how poverty and limited opportunities can lead young people into destructive patterns they cannot escape.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, crime
Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: ambition, consequences, limited-opportunities
Setting: Chicago
Period: 1930s
310 pages · Paperback · Avon
Content warnings: addiction, violence