New Biography on Chester Himes

I read the August issue of Esquire last night and saw the rewieve of the new biography on Chester Himes. Here is the short review from Publishers Weekly.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-393-06389-9

 

When did you first read Chester Himes??
I've heard the name before but never read any of his work.

 

Back in high school. His books Pinktoes,and The End of the Primitive are about IR. I know there is more howerver. His book Cotton Comes to Harlem became a Hollywood flick.