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This is the Witness History Podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Vincent Dowd.

The African American writer Chester Himes published his first novel in 1945,

but in the late 50s he turned to crime fiction.

What followed was a best-selling series of high energy detective stories set in Harlem, New York.

But most of Himes many readers weren't in America.

They were in France. Chester Himes is generally reckoned the first great AfricanAmerican writer of crime fiction.

His novels, set in Harlem, feature two tough black New York detectives,

happy to cut corners to get the result they want,

Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones.

Gravedigger Jones.

Gravedigger put his foot against Gus's back and shoved him into the room with such force that he catapulted across the floor and rammed headfirst into Jackson's back.

Jackson was knocked forward into Jody just as Jody was rising from his campstool.

Grave digger shouted, Straighten up!

Coffin Ed sealed up the open doorway with his cocked 38 and echoed,

Count off!

...