A SHOCKING NOVEL OF TEEN-AGE DOPE ADDICTS
PEDIGREE BOOKS
FIRST PRINTING 1955
LONDON, UK
FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE UK BY NEVILLE SPEARMAN 1955
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE USA AS THE GOLDEN SPIKE
From the reeking slums of a big city, from the twilight world of escape-hungry "junkies", comes this striking and powerful novel of tormented adolescents-neglected by society, victimised by ruthless dope-pedlars.
Published in cheap edition here for the first time its purpose is to focus attention upon a problem which is by no means confined to the big cities of the United States with which the book is concerned. It is now common knowledge that drug addiction is a widespread and rapidly growing evil in this country and the publishers believe that this factual account of its effects upon teenagers can serve as a timely warning and a deterrent.
The material of this book is sensational, but this is not a sensational novel. It is based on fact-the shameful, inescapable fact that society takes no responsibility for these lost and bitter children.
The author Hal Ellson, is a recreational therapist who comes into daily contact with the under-privileged and emotionally disturbed teenagers about whom he writes. More than two years of interviewing and several hundred pages of notes went into the preparation of the background of Reefer Boy. Mr. Ellson is also the author of Duke and Tomboy, whose total sales in America now top 3,000,000 copies.
