The Woman Chaser

By Charles Willeford

Book Overview

"A pitilessly hilarious dissection of the American male psyche."--Chicago Tribune

Richard Hudson, an inveterate woman-chaser and gifted used car salesman, possesses a pimp's understanding of the ways in which women (and men) are most vulnerable -- and justifies his seductions with a highly perverse logic. By day, he works his crooked car lot with much success. By night, he returns home to a family of misfits: an adoring, ageless mother; her washed-up husband, an ex-film director who is twenty years her junior; and a curious teenage stepsister ripe for corruption.

One day Richard is seized by a feeling of terror and revulsion; he realizes he's wasting his life in the meaningless pursuit of money. His only hope, he decides, is to abandon the used-car game and try his hand at something creative--an ambitious and risk-laden film project that will "tie up in a single package his reason for existing."

Richard completes his cherished project. But forces beyond his control swiftly reject and destroy it. As a result, the enraged and humiliated used-car salesman goes on a bender for the ages, drinking his way through the underbelly of Los Angeles and exacting a monstrous revenge on all who have crossed him.

"The most eloquently brainy and exacting pulp-fiction ever fabricated "--Village Voice
"No one writes a better crime novel than Charles Willeford."--Elmore Leonard

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1568582099
• ISBN13: 9781568582092
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.2" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

I give Willeford A+++

I've never read a more realistic noir. This is a pretty raunchy novel. A brilliant study of the dark triad personality: machiavellian, narcissist, psychopath. Favorite line: "my boredom was a burning fuse."

a fascinating yet nasty piece of literature..

I have read several novels by Charles Willeford. His latter works from the 1980s, such as Miami Blues, are a blend of crime/humour with a south Florida setting ... stuff that I like. His earlier works from the 1960s/1970s, such as Cockfighter, are rather broodingly serious pieces ... stuff that I don't like. The Woman Chaser is a very early piece from Willeford, written in 1960. To my surprise it is by a wide margin the best of Willeford I've read.Firstly, The Woman Chaser is not about chasing women. The story is actually about a rather cruel, warped used car salesman who wants to break into films. He abuses everyone to achieve his goal. While this might sound like a trite story Willeford structures it very cleverly, and it is written in the style of Jim Thompson ... in the first person with brutal language. Fortunately the book is not too depressing, and at times there is some humour.Bottom line: a terrific little book by Willeford. A must read.

Great American Noir

Charles Willeford wrote psychopaths better than any sane man should. This book--written, I believe, when he was still in the Air Force--is an examination of a soulless car salesman who wants to create something more permanent. Something lasting. And decides on making a misanthropic movie that will shock and shame the audience. A great, if not THE great, American novel.

One of my favorite noir books

I love this book. The ending is so damn brilliant, so startling. Any one who loves noir needs to read this book.Dave Zeltserman, author of In His Shadow

Enjoyable book: a quick read, tightly paced "noir-lite"

Without revealing the plot (!)---The main character is a gritty used-car salesman par excellence, and the storyline deals with him becoming aware of his life's limitations, and his subsequent response to this wake-up call for greater meaning. Ironically, the book is not about a woman chaser, per se...Willeford uses his main character's view to point out a number of human failings, and the brisk plotline and well-developed supporting cast are more than willing to reveal some of life's bitter ironies. The result is an enjoyable and quick read, filled with tinges of sarcasm and understated dark humor.

American Classic

The Woman Chaser is a great read. Dark, funny, troubling, REAL, just like life. Willeford is an unrecognized American genius, read The Woman Chaser and find out for yourself.