National Books for Everybody Pick (Canada)

Never before have as many outrageous and out-sized characters appeared in one place at the same time. Words like rogues, rascals, rapscallions, reprobates and rodomontades don't completely describe these individuals; they are more than each or any combination thereof. They are scalawags. People who claim to push the envelope are stamped, sealed and delivered compared with this bunch. They may be conmen or conwomen, adventurers, fabulists and/or delusional but they all share the extreme passion for life - always more Life! Some are of the modern era, some go way back, but their lust and spirit link them throughout the ages. This book, like its predecessor, Scalawags: Rogues, Roustabouts, Wags & Scamps, is devoted to the celebration of that passion that refuses to be stifled by convention.

Read about the adventurous lives and wild exploits of Caroline Otero, Andre Malraux, Lord Timothy Dexter, Suzanne Valadon, William Hunt, Mata Hari, Emma Hamilton, Bata Kindai Amgoza, and many more in this second volume of Scalawags!

Praise for Rogues, Rascals, and Scalawags Too:

"As noble and valorous as our favorite heroes are, many of us can't resist a good tale of villainy. Christy writes about real-life con artists, adventurers, and hedonists that span ages and continents to deliver us juicy stories of skullduggery and debauchery. And if you like this one, it's the sequel to another book that you could also devour–just, try not to break anything if it inspires you to practice swashbuckling in your living room, aye?" (Book Riot, "5 Small Press Books to Read in January")

"Words like rogues, rascals, rapscallions, reprobates and rodomontades don't completely describe these individuals. These are stories about con artists, adventurers, fabulists and the delusional – who all share an extreme passion for life. Some are of the modern era, some go way back, but their lust and spirit link them throughout the ages. This book, like Christy's predecessor, Scalawags: Rogues, Roustabouts, Wags and Scamps, published in 2008, is devoted to the celebration of that passion." (Coast Reporter)

Praise for Scalawags: Rogues, Roustabouts, Wags & Scamps:

"Christy's work reminds us that losers are cool, that the middle-of-the-road might be smoother but the ditches are more interesting, and that every rounder has a good story to tell." (The Globe and Mail)

Always in search of original characters and experiences, Jim Christy is a literary vagabond with few peers. He was once described by George Woodcock as “one of the last unpurged North American anarchistic romantics.” His publisher has called him a hip Indiana Jones; one reviewer credited him with a “Gary Cooper-like presence.” His buddies have included hobos, jazz musicians, boxers, and non-academic writers such as Charles Bukowski, Peter Trower and Joe Ferone. “I never dismiss another’s story out of hand,” he writes, “no matter what it’s about or how outrageous it may seem.” Christy’s often wry reminiscences of his travels, trysts and trials are fuelled by a hard-won pride. A gardener, a sculptor and a spoken word performer with a jazz/blues ensemble, Christy has been seen in film and television productions, usually in non-speaking roles as a thug or a gangster.

Jim Christy's profile page