This contains an excerpt by slim from the naked soul of iceberg slim, as well as dozens of other incarcerated authors. From a career as a, yes, ruthless pimp in the 40s and 50s, iceberg slim refashioned himself as the first and still the greatest of the street lit masters, whose vivid books have made him an icon to such rappers as icet, jayz, and snoop dogg and a presiding spirit of blaxploitation culture. He briefly attended the tuskegee institute but dropped out to return to the streets of the south side, where he remained, pimping until he was fortytwo. Iceberg slim s story is now depicted in a major motion picture distributed worldwide. Writing grim, noirish tales about black street life when he wasnt hustling or pimping women, iceberg slim has become a legend of the lowdown since his death in 1992. In april 1962, robert beck, who later achieved lasting fame under the pen. Buy a cheap copy of the naked soul of iceberg slim book by iceberg slim. He makes the reader understand the glamour and appeal of the pimp lifestyle, whilst also detailing its brutality and danger.
It has to be pointed out to him that slim spent the first half of his life beating up black women and living high off their labors as prostitutes. The documentary showed the journey of the writer from a pimp in chicago to the writer of 7 fascinating novels that was sold worldwide. Nov 19, 2019 the reemergence of iceberg slim and his legacy are down to a the new publication from contra mundum press. The first and finest of his books was a memoir, pimp. The story of my life, ice berg slim recounts his personal autobiography as a intellectuallygifted teenager growing up in the world before desegregation. Iceberg slims autobiographical novel offered readers a never. Iceberg slims autobiographical novel sent shockwaves throughout the literary world when it published in 1969. Novelist and poet whose most famous novel, pimp, is semiautobiographical. Slim was a pimp who took his reallife experiences and parlayed them into a writing career. The naked soul of iceberg slim book by iceberg slim.
The perennial cult classic, introduced by irvine welsh. Slim folded his life into the pages of seven books based on his life. Iceberg slim trick baby,naked soul and pimp 3 books collection set. Iceberg slim aka robert beck on relationships, psychology, pickup, pimping, society, cons, raising children, crime and punishment, helping t.
His name comes from his calm demeanor in intense situations, as well as his body type. The story of my life, and trick baby, and more on thriftbooks. He spent much of his childhood in milwaukee and rockford, illinoisbefore returning to chicago as a teenager his father having abandoned them, slim s mother supported the family by working as a domestic and operating a beauty shop. The biography of a con man 1967, holloway house, novel mama black widow. Iceberg slim, in the 1968 interview, promotes his book trick baby and describes the pidgeon drop con. The biography of iceberg slim, by justin gifford, is an exercise in demystification. And in the story, iceberg slim s bottom bitch is at the end of her mileage. Jun 01, 1971 iceberg slim has been a household name and book on the shelf since i was young. Catapulted into the public eye, slim became a new american hero, known for speaking the truth whether that truth was ugly, sexy, rude, or blunt.
Iceberg slims autobiographical novel offered readers a neverbeforeseen account. Iceberg slim, also known as robert beck, was born as robert lee maupin. Iceberg slim, at once one of americas most infamous pimps and historys bestselling african american writers. Iceberg slim s novels are real, gripping testimonials to the pitfalls of living the fast life. Iceberg slims autobiographical novel offered readers a neverbeforeseen account of the sex trade, and an unforgettable look at the mores of chicagos street life during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Iceberg slim was the pseudonym of robert beck 19181992, who wrote crime fiction and nonfiction books.
The story of my life response paper iceberg slim is not the first name that comes to mind when recollecting prominent authors. Its a book that demands to be read as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the adage that we reap what we sew. The story of my life 1967, holloway house, memoir trick baby. Verified purchase okay, iceberg slim was a prodigoiusly talented writer. His second novel trick baby was also turned into a film that was also named as per the book. Pimp by iceberg slim epilogue books chocolate brews. Pimp the story of my life by iceberg slim audio book youtube.
In the preface, slim says it best, in this book, i will take you, the reader, with me into the secret inner world of the pimp. The book was released in 1973 by universal pictures. The hustlethe story of robert beck aka iceberg slim hip. An amazon top 100 book of the year street poison is the first and definitive autobiography of robert beck, a.
The story of my life about the author iceberg slim born place. Though slim constantly explains the ghetto as hell with a resources h. Portrait of a pimp shows slim s transformation from pimp to the author of 7 classic books. With betty beck, camille beck, diane beck, misty beck. The racist, gutwrenching universe iceberg slim inhabits. If the circumstances were better, iceberg slim might have been a very successful and legitimate entrepreneur. Iceberg slim author of pimp meet your next favorite book. Slim s final novel, and third posthumously released work, night train to sugar hill. Iceberg slim, whose legal name was robert beck, burst on to the scene nearly half a century ago, with his memoir pimp. The story of my life paperback may 10, 2011 by iceberg slim. The story of my life an emotional debt is hard to square. Born robert beck 19181992, iceberg slim was a persona and a pen name that built stories from becks real life. The story of my life son, there is no reason except a stupid one for anybody to project on that screen anything that will worry him or dull that vital edge. This is a brief history of the legendary pimp iceberg slim in his own words.
A cold, hard look at the work of robert iceberg slim. He said he was known for his frosty temperament and for staying calm in emergencies, which combined with his slim build to earn him the street name iceberg slim. Iceberg slim has 17 books on goodreads with 414 ratings. A wellpublished pimp the works of iceberg slim headstuff. Only he could tell this story and make the reader feel it. Iceberg slim, also known as robert beck, was born in chicago in 1918 and was initiated into the life of the pimp at age eighteen. Couple of the photos included here appear in that book too.
The book claims that during his career he had over 400 women, both black and white, working for him. Story of my life filled his stories with the intricacies of. May 10, 2011 iceberg slim s autobiographical novel offered readers a neverbeforeseen account of the sex trade, and an unforgettable look at the mores of chicagos street life during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Pimp the story of my life by iceberg slim powells books. The naked soul of iceberg slim ebook by iceberg slim. It packs a visceral sledgehammer to the skull and does so without apology. In the naked soul of iceberg slim, the fierce and lyrical icon for criminal reformation describes himself as illfrom americas fake facade of justice and. This is the heyday of the pimp, the hardwon pride and glory. Oct 01, 2014 verified purchase okay, iceberg slim was a prodigoiusly talented writer.
Iceberg slim books list of books by author iceberg slim. Published february 5th 2009 by canongate books kindle edition, 337 pages authors. Aug 05, 2015 iceberg slim would go on to write several novels, a story collection and an intense book of essays, the naked soul of iceberg slim 1971. Jan 03, 2018 the iceberg slim story revolves around a sex worker at the natural end of her career, and her pimp, who goes to great lengths to force her, his best earner, into further years of indentured. Nov 16, 2019 as real as you can get without jumping in, this is the story of slim s life as he saw, felt, tasted, and smelled it. Examines the tumultuous life of legendary chicago pimp iceberg slim 19181992 and how he reinvented himself from pimp to author of 7 groundbreaking books. See all books authored by iceberg slim, including pimp. In this book, he discovers the black panther and black pride. The story of my life by iceberg slim paperback 9781786896124 published by canongate 3 october 2019. Pimp, story of my life by iceberg slim 9781786896124 booktopia.
Iceberg slim books list of books by author iceberg slim thriftbooks. Iceberg slim, also known as robert beck,was born as robert lee maupinin chicago, illinois on august 4th, 1918. We learn that becks oftquoted claim of having an i. You will experience nearly every emotion as you run the gamut of tales from page to page. At the same time, his books are populated with unforgettable characters that black people identify with. As real as you can get without jumping in, this is the story of iceberg slims life as he saw, felt, tasted, and smelled it. At the end of this book, iceberg slim tells a story. Street poison, a biography of iceberg slim, writer. Published february 5th 2009 by canongate books ltd paperback, 320 pages authors. Pimp ebook by iceberg slim official publisher page simon. As a former pimp turned author, he uses authentic experiences to convey the. The story of my life, iceberg slim recounts his personal autobiography as a intellectuallygifted teenager growing up in the world before desegregation. According to his memoir, pimp, slim started pimping at 18 and continued until age 42. Groundbreaking for its authentic and oftbrutal account of the sex trade, the book offers readers an unforgettable look at the mores of chicagos street life during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
In this astonishing account, iceberg slim reveals the secret inner world of the pimp, and the smells. Street poison, a biography of iceberg slim, writer and. The naked soul searches the artists soul in a collection of personal essays that are full of passion and razor sharp perception. His shrewd implementation of a high iq of 175 as he claims and a slick, effortless way with words are themes youll see throughout the book. An immersive experience unlike anything before it, pimp is the classic hustlers tale that never seems to go out of style. Weaving stories of deceit, sex, humor and race iceberg slim, bestselling author of pimp, brings us the story of a hustler who doesnt just play the con game, he. A fantastic source book on the entire blaxploitation film genre, including one of the last interviews with iceberg slim 1990 and information on trick baby aka double con, a 1973 film. Portrait of a pimp, i really want to read some of the mans books. As real as you can get without jumping in, this is the story of slim s life as he saw, felt, tasted, and smelled it. Aug, 2015 i taught robert iceberg s slim becks compact gold and purple book, pimp. Pimp sent shockwaves throughout the literary world when it published in 1969. Both sugary food as well as iceberg discovered firmness and hatred from the traumas of their youth. The story of my life by iceberg slim canongate books.
Through various events in his life, he ultimately becomes a pimp in between jail stints. This book was more of a memoir and retelling of passages throughout his young and middle aged life. Maybe iceberg slim was mentioned in american pimp, the 1999 hughes brothers documentary about the worlds second oldest profession. Iceberg slim, all bs aside tells the bitter truth about the pimp life during the 40s and 50s in the black concrete reservation called harlem. He published six more books based on his life and slim died at age 73 in 1992. I think this iceberg slim s writing debut alongside with his naked soul of iceberg slim are monument classics to the extreme. Mar 20, 2018 iceberg slim is the true definition of a person with issues.
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