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Pop. 1280 (1964)

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by Jim Thompson Nick Corey is the sheriff of Potts County, a small rural Southern region in the early part of the 20th century.  Jim Thompson Author Jim Thompson reveals him to us slowly.  At first, he seems like a slow-witted, ineffectual clown with a humorous way of expressing himself.  At this point, he had my sympathy as an underdog.  Then he seems to become rather impulsive, reckless, and careless, and I began to have my doubts about him.   Before long, we find that we are following the story of a sociopath who is a master of manipulation.  He confronts a series of challenges and masters them with creative solutions unburdened by any sense of scruples.  "Big Fist of God" (Turkish) He is shockingly violent, outrageously slanderousā€¦and often laugh-out-loud funny in a very dark way.  "1275 Souls" (French) Writing at a time when the news was filled with examples of Southern inhospitality toward those fighting for social justice and racial equalit...