Getting Carter

The story of Ted Lewis carries historical and cultural resonances for our own troubled times

Ted Lewis is one of the most important writers you’ve never heard of. Born in Manchester in 1940, he grew up in the tough environs of post-war Humberside, attending Hull College of Arts and Crafts before heading for London. His life described a cycle of obscurity to glamour and back to obscurity, followed by death at only 42. He sampled the bright temptations of sixties London while working in advertising, TV and films and he encountered excitement and danger in Soho drinking dens, rubbing shoulders with the ‘East End boys’ in gangland haunts. He wrote for Z Cars and had some nine books published. Alas, unable to repeat the commercial success of Get Carter, Lewis’s life fell apart, his marriage ended and he returned to Humberside and an all too early demise.

Getting Carter is a meticulously researched and riveting account of the career of a doomed genius. Long-time admirer Nick Triplow has fashioned a thorough, sympathetic and unsparing narrative. Required reading for noirists, this book will enthral and move anyone who finds irresistible the old cocktail of rags to riches to rags.

• A meticulously researched and riveting account of the career of a doomed genius whose life story is a classic rags to riches to rags affair
• Get Carter is the ultimate cult film for Brit Noir fans, carrying cross-generational appeal
• 2021 will mark the 50th anniversary of Get Carter
• New editions of Ted Lewis’ GBH and Plender are available from No Exit Press
• Triplow is co-organiser of the Hull Noir Festival, and there will be Ted Lewis related events at Hull Noir 2021
• The influence of Ted Lewis’ Jack’s Return Home and the subsequent film adaptation, Get Carter, is strong to this day, reflected in the work of David Peace, Jake Arnott and a host of contemporary crime And noir authors
• Ted Lewis was the Godfather of contemporary British crime writing.
• Nick Triplow has long been billed as the successor to Ted Lewis
• Hull is UK City of Culture 2017 so local writing heroes in vogue