The City of Comrades

"The City of Comrades" by Basil King is a story set in a gritty, early 1900s New York, and it examines the lives of people existing on the edges of society. It centers on an unnamed main character, wrestling with internal conflict, who gets pulled into a life of crime while battling his personal demons and the constraints of society. Beginning in June of 1913, desperation and longing thread through the narrative as the protagonist finds himself involved with Lovey, hinting at a crime against two wealthy older women. He grapples with his morality, reflecting on a past filled with dashed dreams and societal rejection, his hesitations clashing with Lovey's eagerness. The story establishes a tense atmosphere, highlighting the search for connection amidst the dangers and possibilities of city life, and it asks the hard questions about redemption and the strength of human relationships.