Thieves' Market

Thieves' Market is a 1949 proletarian novel by Nick Garcos that reflects his experiences as a trucker in California's Central Valley. UC Press's Voices Revived program makes high-quality scholarship accessible again.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

A dark, fast-paced proletarian novel originally published in 1949, Thieves' Market was written out of the author's youthful experiences as a trucker carrying produce to the packing houses of California's Central Valley. Immigrant Nick Garcos, like his father before him, becomes an independent trucker, soon landing in the brutal and crooked underworld of the produce markets of San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, and Los Angeles. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology.

Nick Garcos, an immigrant, follows in his father's footsteps by becoming a trucker, transporting produce to the packing houses in California's Central Valley. However, his journey takes a dark turn when he enters the ruthless and corrupt world of the San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, and Los Angeles produce markets. Thieves' Market, originally published in 1949, is a powerful portrayal of the struggles and hardships faced by the working class during that time.

The novel is written from the perspective of Nick Garcos, an immigrant who becomes an independent trucker. He navigates the treacherous terrain of the produce markets, where he encounters a range of characters, from ruthless businessmen to desperate immigrants. Nick's experiences reflect the broader social and economic conditions of the era, including the struggles of immigrants to find their place in a new country and the exploitation of workers by powerful corporations.

One of the key themes of Thieves' Market is the corruption and exploitation that permeate the produce markets. The businessmen who control the industry are willing to do anything to make a profit, including cheating their suppliers, exploiting their workers, and engaging in illegal activities. Nick becomes embroiled in this world, and his experiences expose the darker side of the industry.

Another theme of the novel is the resilience and determination of the working class. Despite the harsh conditions and obstacles they face, Nick and his fellow truckers continue to work hard, striving to provide for their families and improve their lives. They face discrimination, harassment, and violence, but they never give up. Their determination to succeed is a testament to the human spirit and the power of community.

Thieves' Market is a powerful and evocative novel that continues to resonate with readers today. It is a testament to the author's ability to capture the essence of the working class and the struggles they face. The novel's themes of corruption, exploitation, resilience, and determination are still relevant in our society, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of social justice and the fight for workers' rights.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520306844