I thought that this was a delightful book! For one thing, it is so fresh: we've seen plenty of sheriffs, gunslingers, cowboys, ranchers, etc., but this is about an itinerant typesetter. I never knew there was such a thing -- if I'd thought about it, I'd realize there had to be typesetters -- how else could they have newspapers, posters, pamphlets, but I'm sure it would never have occurred to me that some of them would be wanders in search of new places and adventures.

Artemus "Give-a-Damn" Jones certainly finds adventures, he claims it's a curse, and he hates his nickname. He always intervenes when he sees wrong-doing, and he's as handy with his fists and his gun as he is with his typesetting stick. And he's a very good typesetter -- it must drive editors a little crazy that he rarely stays in one place more than two weeks. His fame for good deeds spreads far and wide, and it's difficult for him to downplay them when they hit the papers.

The story is told by a variety of narrators, indeed most if not all of the people in the character list. Artemus Jones only speaks in dialogue quoted by others. But what a story! It is lively, fascinating, and hard to put down. I am hoping that Pronzini will follow this with some sequels, not sparing Give-a-Damn's blushes. ( )

Give-a-Damn Jones by Bill Pronzini

Big smile on my face as I type this review :)

Why? Well…my father put himself through school working as a printer and his stories of being a printer, friendships with printers and his collection of beautifully printed documents lead me and my siblings to choose printing instead of shop or home economics as our electives in high school. As I read about the typesetting and the terms used to describe the press and ink and everything else…so many memories were tapped that I sat and smiled then smiled again because…the book also tapped memories of reading my father’s collection of westerns…and in many ways this story of itinerate journeyman printer Artemas Give-A-Damn Jones made this Sunday a splendid one for me as I revisited the historical past of the United States but also my own.

The way this story is told made me think of Mark Twain, O’Henry and also of other authors from the past. It is told by various supporting characters who encounter Artemas but we never really hear from the main character except a few times in dialogue. Artemas may or may not have a reputation that is exaggerated – kind of like that of Paul Bunyan – but in truth he is bigger than life and a man I would love to meet.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )