O’Brien, Rev. Raymond J. ‘Nice Going Red. The Story of a Boy Who Couldn’t Take It

Description

O’Brien, Rev. Raymond J. ‘Nice Going Red. The Story of a Boy Who Couldn’t Take It’ 1935 1st edition novel. 281-pages. Good condition hardcovers, no dust jacket.

“Nice Going, Red: The Story of a Boy Who Couldn’t Take It” by Rev. Raymond J. O’Brien (later Monsignor O’Brien) is a classic mid-century Catholic youth novel published by Benziger Brothers, Inc. in 1935. Benziger Brothers was renowned for producing moral, action-oriented fiction designed specifically to guide young Catholic boys through the peer pressures and societal temptations of urban life.

Book Description:
The novel centers on Frank “Red” Devlin, a tough, spirited kid known as the best fighter in his town. Despite his physical strength, Red has a major vulnerability: he absolutely cannot stand being teased, making him highly susceptible to peer pressure.

The plot thickens when his mentor, a local police officer named Lieutenant Carroll, catches Red smoking and shooting dice with a couple of rough characters, Clyde White and Bert Stone. While Red genuinely wants to lead an honest, upright life, he constantly fights an internal battle against his own fear of looking foolish or soft in front of his peers. The narrative acts as a moral coming-of-age drama exploring whether Red can find the spiritual and moral backbone to “take it” and do the right thing, or if he will continuously surrender to the easy, wayward path.

The original 1935 first edition hardcover features exactly 281 pages and is traditionally bound in distinct red cloth boards with black stamped lettering/cover design.