Algren's last novel relates the story of Ruby Calhoun, a boxer accused of murder in a shadowy world of low-purse fighters, cops, con artists and bar girls. Algren chronicles a battle for truth and human dignity which gives way to a larger story of life and death deicisions. This is a man writing and you should not read it if you cannot take a punch. Mr. Algren, boy, you are good.' - Ernest Hemingway 'Algren is an artist whose sympathy is as large as Victor Hugo's, an artist who ranks among our best American authors.' - Chicago Sun Times'