The Dirty Dozen

In the dizzying haze of the 1960s, when bell-bottoms were flared and everyone was trying desperately to be groovy, E M Nathanson penned a little something called "The Dirty Dozen." Ah, but don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is merely a story about a dozen unsavoury characters. No, my dear reader, this is a veritable jamboree of chaos, camaraderie, and a sprinkle of good old-fashioned mayhem, all wrapped up in the kind of cover that makes you question your life choices while simultaneously igniting a dubious curiosity.

Published by Dell, who were surely having a laugh in a decade known for its eccentricities, this novel is not just a rendezvous with regretful decision-making, but a deep dive into the psyche of those who dare to tread where angels fear to linger. You’re led through a labyrinth of morally ambiguous choices—perfect for those of you who fancy picking apart the remnants of what makes us human while secretly snickering behind your cuppa. Was it a metaphor for the time? Who can say? But one thing is for sure: this is not your grandma’s bedtime reading.

Follow along as our dashing protagonists engage in a series of escapades that may inspire you to reconsider your own thoroughly unexciting existence. Surely, a wild night out could never lead to such thrilling adventures—unless you happen to be in an alleyway with a dozen questionable companions and a suspiciously large vat of something resembling punch. You’ll find characters drawn with the finesse of a drunken artist using a broken crayon, and conversations that will leave you questioning whether you’ve suddenly been transported to a pub quiz where every answer is “fish and chips.”

Does it have a plot? Well, that’s the million-pound question, isn’t it? Expect a hodgepodge of subplots that twist like your auntie’s knitting after a few too many sherries. You’ll meet a ragtag group of misfits, each more eccentric than the last, as they band together in what they presume to be a grand mission. Spoiler alert: the mission may or may not involve dubious deeds that would make even the most hardened of criminals shake their heads in disbelief—or perhaps in admiration.

Why were do-gooders left behind? Why might this book serve as the perfect backdrop for your next dinner party? Why did the publisher choose a cover that looks like it was designed by a cat who’d just discovered a typewriter? These questions, my friend, are best left for the literary philosophers while you sip your Earl Grey and revel in the delightful absurdity of it all.

Condition: Used, as sold by Crappy Old Books, which means it has that delightful air of character—like a vintage car that comes with its own assortment of quirks. Expect dog-eared pages that have been turned in both delight and confusion, ink stains that whisper stories of their own, and a spine that might just creak in delight at your attempts to read it. You won’t find any ISBNs here, just a book that has had a life before you and is ready to continue its journey in your hands.

So, if you’re in the market for a literary experience that resembles a raucous night out gone awry, "The Dirty Dozen" is waiting on your shelf, looking all the more inviting with its tattered edges and questionable moral compass. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire you to gather a few of your own dirty dozen and wreak a little havoc of your own—just remember to bring the punch.

Don’t forget, this enchanting relic, with all its quirks and eccentricities, is proudly available through Crappy Old Books, where the motto is “Not all treasures shine, but some sure do smell interesting.”

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