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Further Information
Donald MacKenzie was born 1908 and had two main series characters, Henry Chalice and the intriguingly named Crying Eddie !
Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1908 and educated in England, Canada and Switzerland, for twenty-five years, MacKenzie lived by crime in many countries. " I went to jail," he writes, " if not with depressing regularity—too often for my liking." His last sentences were for five years in the United States and three years in England—and they ran concurrently. He began writing and selling stories when in an American jail and says " I like writing and hope to keep at it till I die. I like travel, kippers, American cars, Spanish suits, ice hockey, prize fights, walking, flowers, sun, dogs, Brahms, horseback riding, settling old scores, people who like me. I don't like meat, cocktail parties, Spanish gin, policemen, most judges, talk about things I don't understand, pompous people, good losers, or writers who " spell it out " for you.
" I try to do exactly as I like as often as possible and I don't think I'm either a psychopathic, a wayward boy, a problem of our time, a charming rogue, or ever was."
If you have any more information about the author please do get in touch.
Sample
AT BROMPTON ROAD, Russell used a shoulder to fight his way off the crowded bus. Sound of a striking clock lingered as he turned into the quiet square. In front of him, the Victorian facade of an apartment building warmed in the early-morning sunshine. He went up the steps.
Inside, a faded carpet covered the entrance hall. Two forbidding busts guarded the central stairway, A porter moved rheumatically from the shadows. Seeing Russell, he blinked recognition. A row of campaign ribbons brightened the man's high-necked uniform. The jet of his waxed moustache was made suspect by thinning grey hair.
Russell followed him as far as the ancient elevator. The porter hauled on the handrope, grumbling his way to the top floor. He threw open the cage door, thrusting a couple of newspapers at the Canadian.
" The paper bill's inside, sir. Per'aps you'd tell Mr. Sergeant the boy's been about it. Twice ! " He slammed the cage shut.
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