Damon Runyon Omnibus. Illustrated Edition. More Than Somewhat, Furthermore, Take It Easy

Step into the lively, eccentric, and unforgettable world of Damon Runyon, where Broadway hustlers, gamblers, showgirls, bookmakers, and small-time schemers speak in a language entirely their own. *Damon Runyon Omnibus. Illustrated Edition* brings together three celebrated collections-*More Than Somewhat*, *Furthermore*, and *Take It Easy*-offering a rich panorama of the stories that made Runyon one of the most distinctive voices in American literature.
Set largely amid the bright lights and shadowy corners of New York City, these tales capture a vanished era of nightclubs, racing tracks, backroom card games, and theatrical boarding houses, all populated by characters whose questionable occupations are often matched by unexpected loyalty, generosity, and charm. Runyon's unmistakable narrative style transforms the slang and rhythms of Broadway into a brilliantly inventive literary language.
His deadpan humor, curious grammar, and formal descriptions of thoroughly informal people create a comic atmosphere unlike anything else in twentieth-century fiction. Here are sharp operators chasing impossible fortunes, romantic dreamers caught in unlikely situations, and tough figures discovering that sentiment can be more dangerous than any wager. Beneath the comedy and colorful dialogue lies a warm understanding of human weakness.
Runyon rarely judges his characters; instead, he observes their ambitions, superstitions, romances, and failures with wit and affection, revealing flashes of tenderness in a world supposedly governed by money and chance. This illustrated omnibus is an ideal introduction to Runyon's Broadway universe as well as a substantial collection for longtime admirers of his work. The stories gathered in *More Than Somewhat*, *Furthermore*, and *Take It Easy* showcase his gift for memorable characterization, comic storytelling, and perfectly timed irony.
Readers will encounter a gallery of unforgettable personalities and situations that helped inspire generations of writers, filmmakers, and dramatists. Energetic, humorous, and endlessly quotable, *Damon Runyon Omnibus* preserves the voice of old Broadway in all its noisy, sentimental, and gloriously unconventional splendor-a world where every stranger has a nickname, every deal carries a risk, and even the hardest character may turn out to possess a surprisingly generous heart. Contents: - More Than Somewhat - Furthermore - Take It Easy