Street Poison: The Biography of Iceberg Slim

Robert Beck, aka Iceberg Slim, author of the megabestselling memoir Pimp and one of the most influential black writers of the 20th century, is given reverential treatment in this well-researched biography. Gifford traces Beck’s story from his childhood in Chicago during the depression, through a life of petty crime and his pimping in the 1940s and ’50s, to his flash of fame as an author and cult voice to a generation, and through his eventual decline, though he retained an air of dignity and garnered respect from those around him. Voice actor Jackson brings a solid presence to his reading. His clear, well-articulated narration keeps Beck’s story moving at a steady pace, and he transitions easily into a street voice for quotations from Beck’s interviews and writing. The book is a fascinating look at a writer who, despite his millions of sales, is little known by the general public but whose influence is still being felt today. A Doubleday hardcover. (Aug.)