Mama's Boy by David Alexander

Originally published May 1955 in Manhunt; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

MA15+

(D, L, V)

Drug Use {PG} {alcohol}

Coarse Language {M}

Violence {MA}

Representations

Gender:

Viewpoint character is intensely misogynistic and focused on distorted ideals of masculinity.

Sex:

Heterosexual appeal played up by the lead as means of making his living, modelling and conning or robbing women.

Race & Ethnicity:

No mention, consequently presuming whiteness.

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Viewpoint character fixated on his body and taking care of it in a naive, grotesque way.

Awards

None found

Notes

Another upsetting story. Driven entirely by the viewpoint character's hatred of women, to the point of murder as a way of thrilling himself and proving his masculinity. All my sympathy and admiration lies with his victims. In the one case, her canny quick-wittedness that is his downfall, and in the other the futile fight she puts up. Quite upsetting, even to skim for getting this rating up.