Until I cross the Atlantic again, I am separated from most of
my Chandler and so can't be specific in my references to
respond to Mat. But I do not believe that he was always, only
referring to "emotional realism." As Chris noted, he was not
above posturing in this area. I have great admiration for
Chandler. I can't wait to get the new collection of letters
for his SELECTED LETTERS is one of my favorite books. Perhaps
in the new collection he passionately condemns the whole
*idea* of realism, although no sane person would get overly
exercised about it, one way or the other.
I agree with Kevin that you cannot categorize writers or
readers these days based on gender and what they write or
read. My comments were specifically about the birth of the HB
private eye in the pulps of the 20s, 30s and 40s. Leigh
Brackett is a favorite of mine and I've tracked down several
of her detective stories in the pulps of the 1940s because
she was quite good at any time, in any genre. The conventions
have changed over the years and I do think that, in part,
reflects the changes in the readership both demographically
and psychographically. Writers and publishers would be nuts
not to respond to this. Some of it is quite good and much of
it is drek but that's just Sturgeon's Law.
Richard Moore
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