Although best known today for his singular, stunning "anti-novels" dazzlingly co
njured from anecdotes, quotes, and small thoughts, in his early days David Marks
on paid the rent by writing punchy, highly dramatic fictions. On the heels of a
new double edition of his steamy noirs "Epitaph for a Tramp" and "Epitaph for a
Deadbeat" comes a new edition of his 1965 classic "The Ballad of Dingus Magee, "
whose subtitle -- "Immortal True Saga of the Most Notorious and Desperate Bad M
an of the Olden Days, his Blood-Shedding, his Ruination of Poor Helpless Females
, & Cetera" -- gives readers a hint of the raucous sensibility at work here. Bri
mming with blasphemy, bullets, and bordellos, this hilarious tale, which inspire
d the Frank Sinatra movie "Dirty Dingus McGee, " shows the early Markson at his
outrageous best, taking down, as "Playboy" put it, "the breeches of the Old West
and blast[ing] what's exposed with buckshot."
