Strega (novel)

Last updated
Strega
Strega cover.jpg
First edition cover
Author Andrew Vachss
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre Hardboiled detective novel
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf, New York, U.S.A.
Publication date
12 February 1987
Media typePrint (hardcover and mass market paperback)
Pages293 pp
ISBN 0-394-55937-1
Preceded byFlood 
Followed byBlue Belle 

Strega ( Italian for 'witch' / 'sorceress') is a hardboiled detective novel written by American author and attorney Andrew Vachss, first published in 1987. The story features the pursuit and destruction by the protagonist Burke, an ex-con private investigator, of a pedophile ring involved in trading child pornography via telephone modems. The novel was written and published long before social concern over the use of the Internet for spreading or trading child pornography became widespread. [1] [2] The second novel in the Burke Series, it introduced numerous characters who would go on to appear in all of the series thereafter: Immaculata (Max's girlfriend and later mother to Flower); rescued child prostitute Terry (who would become Mole and Michelle's son); and Wolfe, who is serving as an Assistant District Attorney when the events in this story take place.

After the critical acclaim and commercial success of his first novel Flood, Vachss was contacted by Robert Gottlieb, then editor-in-chief of the New York publishing house Alfred A. Knopf, and signed a contract with an advance of US$175,000 for Strega. [3] The novel subsequently won the 1988 Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, a prestigious French award for mystery and crime novels, and the 1989 Falcon Award by the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion Zimmer Bradley</span> American author (1930−1999)

Marion Eleanor Zimmer Bradley was an American author of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction, and science fantasy novels, and is best known for the Arthurian fiction novel The Mists of Avalon and the Darkover series. Noted for the feminist perspective in her writing, her reputation has been posthumously marred by her daughter Moira Greyland's accusations of child sexual abuse, and for allegedly assisting her second husband, convicted child abuser Walter Breen, in sexually abusing multiple unrelated children.

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Hunter</span> American author and screenwriter

Evan Hunter, born Salvatore Albert Lombino, was an American author and screenwriter best known for his 87th Precinct novels, written under his Ed McBain pen name, and the novel upon which the film Blackboard Jungle was based.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Vachss</span> American writer and lawyer (1942–2021)

Andrew Henry Vachss was an American crime fiction author, child protection consultant, and attorney exclusively representing children and youths.

Harold Schechter is an American true crime writer who specializes in serial killers. He is a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, City University of New York where he taught classes in American literature and myth criticism for forty-two years. Schechter's essays have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and the International Herald Tribune. He is the editor of the Library of America volume, True Crime: An American Anthology. His newest book, published in March 2021, is Maniac: The Bath School Disaster and the Birth of the Modern Mass Killer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protect (political organization)</span>

Protect is a political organization established in 2002 and dedicated to the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(4) membership association with members in every U.S. state and 10 nations. Protect achieved great success in its first three years, winning legislative victories in eight state legislatures. It advocates a nonpartisan "pro-child, anti-crime" agenda, and works closely with both conservative and liberal constituencies and lawmakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Child</span> British thriller writer (born 1954)

James Dover Grant, primarily known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British author who writes thriller novels, and is best known for his Jack Reacher novel series. The books follow the adventures of a former American military policeman, Jack Reacher, who wanders the United States. His first novel, Killing Floor (1997), won both the Anthony Award and the 1998 Barry Award for Best First Novel.

<i>A Death in White Bear Lake</i> Book by Barry Siegel

A Death in White Bear Lake is a true crime book by journalist Barry Siegel, published in 1990, which recounts the murder of Dennis Jurgens.

<i>Legacies</i> (novel)

Legacies is the second volume in a series of Repairman Jack books written by American author F. Paul Wilson. The book was first published in 1998 by Headline in England (February) and by Forge Books in the US (August).

<i>Batman: The Ultimate Evil</i> Novel by Andrew Vachss

Batman: The Ultimate Evil is a novel written by Andrew Vachss and published in 1995 by the Warner Aspect imprint of Warner Books. Vachss was an attorney specializing in child abuse cases, as well as a crime novelist best known for his series of books featuring the character Burke, a private investigator who fights against sexual predators. A representative from DC Comics approached Vachss about the possibility of writing a novel featuring Batman. Viewing this as an opportunity to reach a completely different audience, Vachss agreed and wrote a draft. He continued with his themes concerning child sexual abuse and explored the topic of child sex tourism. The publisher required Vachss to follow certain rules, like making a clear distinction between fiction and reality and prohibiting the Batman character from killing, cursing, or having sex.

Elaine Marie Alphin was an American author of more than thirty books for children and young adults. Although she specialized in fiction, she has published many non-fiction titles, including biographies of Davy Crockett, Louis Pasteur, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Paul Jones, which she co-wrote with her husband Arthur Alphin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Rob Smith</span> English author, screenwriter, producer (born 1979)

Tom Rob Smith is an English author, screenwriter and producer.

An obscenity is any utterance or act that strongly offends the prevalent morality and social politics of the time. It is derived from the Latin obscēnus, obscaenus, "boding ill; disgusting; indecent", of uncertain etymology. Such loaded language can be used to indicate strong moral repugnance and outrage, vile, vigilance in conservation, or revenge. In expressions such as "obscene profits" and "the obscenity of war," ; misdirection. As a legal term, it usually refers to graphic depictions of people engaged in sexual and excretory activity, and related utterances of profanity, or the exploited child, human being or situation on display. It may also relate to a fear quotient in the public area affecting trend.

The Maltese Falcon Society is an organization for admirers of Dashiell Hammett, his 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon, and hardboiled mystery books and writers in general. Founded in San Francisco in 1981, the organization is no longer active in the United States; however, a chapter in Japan has been active continuously since 1982. The Japanese branch of the society presents the Falcon Award, Japan's highest honor in the mystery field, to honor the best hardboiled mystery novel published in Japan.

A range of research has been conducted examining the link between viewing child pornography and perpetration of child sexual abuse, and much disagreement persists regarding whether a causal connection has been established. Perspectives fall into one of three positions:

Child pornography is unlawful pornography in most jurisdictions that exploits minors for sexual stimulation. It may be produced with the direct involvement or sexual assault of a child or it may be simulated child pornography. Abuse of the child occurs during the sexual acts or lascivious exhibitions of genitals or pubic areas which are recorded in the production of child pornography. Child pornography may use a variety of mediums, including writings, magazines, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, video, virtual reality and video games. Child pornography may be created for profit or other reasons.

<i>Mucho Mojo</i>

Mucho Mojo Is a mystery/crime novel by American author Joe R. Lansdale. This is the second in Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series of crime novels.

<i>Vanilla Ride</i>

Vanilla Ride is a crime fiction novel written by American author Joe R. Lansdale. It is the eighth book in the Hap and Leonard series. Published in 2009, it is the first in the book in the series since Captains Outrageous in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hap and Leonard</span> Fictional character

Hap and Leonard are two fictional amateur investigators and adventurers created by American author Joe R. Lansdale. They are the main characters in a series of twelve novels, four novellas, and three collections of stories and excerpts. They are two very different men and the best of friends, and now work together as private investigators for Hap's girlfriend Brett Sawyer. Together they always wind up in a lot of trouble with various criminal types in the fictional town of LaBorde, in East Texas and often find themselves attempting to solve various unpleasant and brutal crimes. Both men are well versed in the martial arts. The novels were adapted into a 2016–2018 TV series, produced by SundanceTV. The duo were partially inspired by The Hardman series by the late Ralph Dennis.

References

  1. Schofield, Karin (2004). "Chapter 10 - Collisions of Culture and Crime: Media Commodifications of Child Sexual Abuse". Cultural Criminology Unleashed. Routledge-Cavendish. pp. 126–127. ISBN   1-904385-37-0.
  2. O'Donnell, Ian; Milner, Claire (2007). Child Pornography: Crime, Computers and Society. Willan Publishing. p. 29. ISBN   978-1-84392-356-5.
  3. Pooley, Eric (25 May 1987). "The Last Angry Man: Lawyer Andrew Vachss Takes to Novels to Fight Child Abuse". New York . Vol. 20, no. 21. New York Media, LLC. p. 44. ISSN   0028-7369.
  4. "Andrew Vachss - Contemporary Author New Revision Series, Volume 44, pages 444-446". The Official Website of Andrew Vachss. Retrieved 16 October 2010.