Skene, Don – The Red Tiger

Description

Skene, Don ‘The Red Tiger’ Scarce 1934 1st edition boxing novel. 195 pages. Good minus condition with some fraying to the top of the spine and a tiny hole in the middle of the spine. Another in Good + condition. $35.00 each.

“The Red Tiger” is a scarce, satirical sports novel written by veteran journalist and New York Herald Tribune boxing writer Don Skene. Published in 1934 by the D. Appleton-Century Company (New York & London), this 195-page (officially numbered as 196 pages) book is a witty, tongue-in-cheek critique of the prize-fighting industry during the golden age of American boxing.

Book Summary & Literary Context:
Written by a man who spent his career at ringside, The Red Tiger is a humorous and cynical look at how boxing champions are manufactured by slick promoters. The plot follows a scheming boxing trainer who discovers a massive but incredibly mild-mannered and uncoordinated young man named Merle Gillingwater. Recognizing that Merle is a “marshmallow in the rough” rather than a natural fighter, the trainer nevertheless rechristens him “The Red Tiger” and uses clever marketing, hype, and fixed circumstances to turn him into a heavily commercialized boxing sensation.
The book famously features an introduction by legendary Damon Runyon—the definitive voice of Broadway brawlers and gamblers—and is elevated by full-page, black-and-white cartoon illustrations by Howard Baer, the famed artist who drew for The New Yorker.

Bibliographic Specifications:
• Author: Don Skene
• Full Title: The Red Tiger
• Introduction by: Damon Runyon
• Illustrator: Howard Baer
• Publisher: D. Appleton-Century Company (New York & London)
• Year Published: 1934
• Edition: First Edition
• Format: Hardcover (12mo)
• Page Count: 195–196 pages
• Binding: Originally issued in red cloth boards with yellow stamped titles on the front cover and spine.

Collector Scarcity & Market Value:
Because Don Skene had a relatively brief writing career cut short by a severe eye condition and an early passing at age 40, this was his definitive literary contribution. It had a small print run and remains highly scarce on the antiquarian market.