I, the Jury

Mickey Spillane

Book 1 in the series:Mike Hammer

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post world war ii new york city setting

hard boiled dialogue

private investigator quest for vengeance

misogyny and racism

rapid paced action

two dimensional characters

pulp fiction detective novel

tough vengeful archetype

crime and investigation elements

abundance of stereotypes

reflective societal attitudes

'I, the Jury' by Mickey Spillane follows the hard-hitting private investigator, Mike Hammer, on a mission to avenge his friend's murder. Set in New York City in the late 1940s, the book is filled with fast-paced action, two-dimensional characters, and an abundance of stereotypes. The writing style is characterized by hard-boiled dialogue, misogyny, racism, and violence, reflecting the era in which it was written.

Characters:

Characters in the book are often two-dimensional, with Mike Hammer embodying a tough, vengeful archetype that includes various stereotypical female and male roles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by direct, hard-boiled dialogue that reflects its time, often critiqued for its simplicity and clichés.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows a private investigator's quest for vengeance after the murder of his best friend, intertwining action, murder, and themes of justice.

Setting:

Set in post-World War II New York City, the time period heavily influences the narrative, characters, and societal attitudes depicted.

Pacing:

The pacing is rapid, characterized by continuous action that keeps the story moving quickly from one event to the next.

 I shook the rain from my hat and walked into the room. Nobody said a word. They stepped back politely and I could feel their eyes on me. Pat Chambers was standing by the door to the bedroom trying to...

Notes:

Mike Hammer is a private investigator and the main character in I, the Jury.

The book was written by Mickey Spillane and published in 1947.

It was Spillane's first novel and set the stage for the Mike Hammer series.

The story involves Mike Hammer seeking revenge for his friend's murder.

The book features a hard-boiled detective style, common in pulp fiction of the time.

Many readers find the character of Mike Hammer to be a misogynist and racist.

The narrative includes themes of sex, violence, and a strong sense of masculinity.

The novel's writing style is often criticized for being choppy and formulaic.

Despite its flaws, the book was hugely popular and sold over three million copies by the mid-1950s.

I, the Jury is still in print today, making it a constant in pulp fiction history.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high levels of content warnings, including themes of violence, significant sexism, and instances of homophobia.

Has Romance?

There is a medium presence of romance, primarily as it relates to the protagonist's interactions with various women and their roles in the narrative.

From The Publisher:

The first novel in Mickey Spillane's classic detective series starring hard-boiled private eye Mike Hammer.

I, the Jury is a double-strength shot of sex, violence, and action that is vintage Spillane all the way. It's a tough-guy mystery to please even the most bloodthirsty of fans.

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About the Author:

Mickey Spillane is one of the world's bestselling novelists, with sales of over 200 million copies worldwide of his more than 30 books, including the series featuring hard-boiled private eye Mike Hammer. In 1995 he was named a Grandmaster by the…

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