From the Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Mars Room, a wildly original first essay collection about living fast and free in a crowded worldIn her twenties Rachel Kushner went to Mexico in pursuit of her first love - motorbikes - to compete in the notorious and deadly race, Cabo 1000. As fellow racers died on the roadside, bikes were stolen and friends abandoned one another in the heat of the chase, she crashed at 80mph and miraculously survived; soon after, she decided to leave her controlling boyfriend and manoeuvred her way into a freer new life.The Hard Crowd is a white-knuckle ride through that life; a book about muscling your way through, finding your own path and, as she says in the hair-raising opening essay, 'completing the ride without dying'. Charged with hot-blooded humanity - with anger against the world's cruelties, and a free-wheeling passion for rare people, machines, movies, music, art and writing - it is an electrifying work about a woman's determination to reach the finish line.
Rachel Kushner
Rachel Kushner is an American novelist known for her critically acclaimed works that explore themes of art, politics, and society. Her most notable works include "The Flamethrowers" and "The Mars Room," both of which have been praised for their vivid prose and incisive commentary on contemporary culture. Kushner's writing style is characterized by its sharp wit, complex characters, and meticulous attention to detail. She has been celebrated for her ability to capture the complexities of human experience and the intricacies of power dynamics in her storytelling. "The Flamethrowers" was a finalist for the National Book Award and received widespread acclaim for its bold narrative and richly drawn characters. Rachel Kushner's contributions to literature have had a significant impact on the literary genre, influencing a new generation of writers with her innovative approach to storytelling and her insightful exploration of the human condition.
Other related
