In hardcover and paperback!
BOSTON, MA—Hamilcar Publications will publish Blood in the Desert: The T. J. English Reader by renowned journalist and author T. J. English on September 1, 2026, in dual hardcover and paperback editions.
Featuring a foreword by bestselling novelist Dennis Lehane, Blood in the Desert gathers, for the first time, the finest of English’s published essays and reporting alongside new work, including the haunting title piece, which has never before appeared in print.
A former New York City taxi driver turned acclaimed chronicler of crime, corruption, and the American underworld, English has spent four decades practicing a form of literary journalism that remains as vital as ever. The author of classic works such as The Westies, Havana Nocturne, and The Corporation, he has earned a place alongside writers like Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, and Gay Talese.
Spanning subjects as varied as jazz, boxing, police corruption, violence in the desert Southwest, and the comedy of George Carlin, Blood in the Desert showcases a scribe drawn toward the fault lines of American life.
Dennis Lehane writes in the foreword:
“T. J. English is, in every great sense of the word, a born raconteur. His tales within this book range far and wide… English is heartless in his assessment of bureaucracies and institutionalized crime and indifference, but he is compassionate (yet quite clear-eyed) about all the hapless and hopeless strivers out there… Out of these strivers, English creates a symphony of souls. A collective voice. A universal hymn.”
Early praise for the collection includes:
“Blood in the Desert shows T. J. English at the top of his formidable game. Shifting between the gritty West Side of Manhattan, the arid landscapes of New Mexico, the boxing rings of Brooklyn and Las Vegas, and the swanky nightclubs of mid-century Havana, English probes the dark heart of contemporary culture. ‘True crime’ doesn’t begin to describe the literary achievement.”
—Peter Richardson, author of Savage Journey: Hunter S. Thompson and the Weird Road to Gonzo
REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
PRESS KIT + PDF ARC: CLICK HERE
T. J. ENGLISH is a journalist and author whose work has chronicled organized crime, boxing, race, music, politics, and American subcultures for more than forty years. His books have been translated into multiple languages and praised for their combination of rigorous reporting and literary power.
HAMILCAR PUBLICATIONS is a Boston-based publisher focused ontrue crime, professional boxing, hip-hop, jazz, and more. Our books appeal to fans of these fascinating,often-intersecting worlds as well as to readers who are simply passionate about great nonfiction storytelling and beautiful book design.
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Kyle Sarofeen, Publisher: kyle@hamilcarpubs.com
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