Thieves' Market [*20th Century-Fox Research Library copy*]

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. Very Good-. 1949. 1st Edition (A). Hardcover. (lacking the original dust jacket, but encased in a nice-looking facsimile reproduction of same; see 2nd image posted with this listing) [moderately worn copy, light soiling/foxing to top edge of text block, spine cloth somewhat faded and lightly stained; "Research Library / Twentieth Century-Fox" stamps on both pastedowns and on title page]. Classic hard-boiled/proletarian novel, about an immigrant trucker (of Greek heritage, as is the author) who, while trying to make a living hauling produce in California's Central Valley, has a tought time maintaining his independence and integrity while dealing with the underworld types who control the West Coast produce markets. The author drew on his own experiences for the book, and took it to the next artistic level as well, doing the screenplay for the pretty damn good movie version, directed by Jules Dassin -- whose political sympathies, well-tuned to the needs of this particular narrative, got him blacklisted not long after. The movie (retitled THIEVES' HIGHWAY) starred Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese, and Lee J. Cobb, at his snarling best as a vicious and crooked produce kingpin; this particular copy originated in the research library of the studio that made the film, Twentieth Century-Fox. NOTE again that this book bears a FACSIMILE dust jacket, to serve the dual purpose of protecting the book from further wear and enhancing its appearance on the shelf; its presence has not been factored in to our pricing. .