Nelson Algren is an American writer and Jewish Communist born in 1909 in Detroit, Michigan, and died on 9 May 1981.
Algren was educated at the University of Illinois and has held various odd jobs while practicing boxing. Considered a typical Chicago novelist's works are realistic reflection of American life. Passion for gambling and alcohol, he fought against the hostility of publishing houses. He died in poverty and indifference to the point that no one has claimed his body.
His interest in the dark side of American society would have earned from the FBI a file of 500 pages although no precise evidence of subversive nature of his writings have earned him no real problems.
In France it is introduced in the existentialist Simone de Beauvoir, with whom he has for more than 15 years a passionate relationship. From this union was born an important match. Letters of Simone de Beauvoir (over 300) were published by Sylvie Le Bon de Beauvoir but did not have permission to translate and publish those of Nelson Algren. Simone de Beauvoir is buried with Nelson Algren ring on her finger.
His work was adapted to film twice: The Man with the Golden Arm (Otto Preminger, 1955), and La Rue hot (Edward Dmytryk, 1962).
Publications
The Man with golden arm
Le Matin is expected
Knitted as the devil
