--- In
rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, JIM DOHERTY
<jimdohertyjr@...> wrote:
>
> Dave,
>
> Re your comment below:
>
> " . . . 'The Gutting of Couffignal' is
something
> special, with the ending perfectly wrapping up
the
> story."
>
> You and Tim are absolutely right. But you don't
go
> far enough.
>
> "Couffignal" is not merely "something special."
It's
> nothing except the best private eye short story
ever
> written. And by a guy who would, a few years
later
> write the best private eye novel ever written (a
novel
> for which "Couffignal" was, in some
respects,
> particularly the ending, a dry run).
It's a great story allright. With it, Hammett wrote the book
on modern hardboiled writing. Everybody talks about
Hemingway's _The Killers_, but I think Couffignal is an even
better cornerstone. I cannot call it anything but
perfect.
Best,
MrT
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