Jerry Gray 
Third Strike 

This is the tragic but vivid self-analysis of an alcoholic. It describes, in gripping fashion, the losing struggle one youth had with alcoholism. At the age of 27 the author committed suicide. Even in this brief autobiography there are indications that he came near to finding the power to win the battle, as others have done. A revealing study. Arguably one of the most eloquent and wrenching books ever written about the debilitating despair of a hopeless alcoholic. There is no self-pity or drama, just a factual account of the last few days of this person’s life in the Bowery. The style is crisp, incisive and poetic. It is a small book. My understanding is that this book was published posthumously after the author committed suicide. What a loss the literary world suffered, what a waste… except for this little gem he left behind!