Eric Chambers asked:
> I just came across the information that William F. Nolan wrote a book
called . 'Dashiell Hammett: A Casebook' Is this a biography or an analysis
of Hammett's writing or what? Is it recommended reading?
My reply:
When William F. Nolan's book "Dashiell Hammett: A Casebook" was published in
1969, it was the first book on Hammett. It won the Edgar Award for Best
Biographical/Critical Book of the Year.
The book begins with an introduction by Philip Durham, the biographer of
Raymond Chandler. It includes a 127-page section that is a combination
biography and critical overview of Hammett's work, and a 49-page checklist
of works by Hammett and about Hammett.
"Dashiell Hammett: A Casebook" broke new ground in Hammett research. (Nolan
is the only Hammett researcher to interview Hammett's boss Albert Samuels
and fellow Black Mask writer Erle Stanley Gardner about Hammett.) But it was
published 40 years ago, and many speculations in the book about Hammett
turned out to be wrong when more evidence was uncovered by other Hammett
researchers, especially David Fechheimer and Richard Layman.
Fans of Ross Macdonald/Kenneth Millar will be interested to know that Millar
edited the book (earning thanks in Nolan's "Acknowledgements" section),
found a publisher for Nolan, and wrote a lengthy blurb for the book's dust
jacket.
I would not recommend "Dashiell Hammett: A Casebook" as an introduction to
Hammett. Newer books are more accurate and more complete. However,
"Casebook" still holds some value for detail-oriented Hammett researchers,
and for Hammett/Nolan/Macdonald completists. The first printing was only
1,000 copies, so a copy with a dust jacket is a collectable item.
What books about Hammett do I recommend? For my take on 16 books and 1 DVD
about Hammett, see this list I wrote for Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Books-and-a-video-about-Dashiell-Hammett/lm/R1W6AV47MJ
UFTA/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full
Vince Emery
Vince Emery Productions
Publisher:
- THE DASHIELL HAMMETT TOUR by Don Herron
- DISCOVERING THE MALTESE FALCON AND
SAM SPADE edited by Richard Layman
- HAMMETT'S MORAL VISION
by George J. "Rhino" Thompson
- LOST STORIES by Dashiell Hammett
www.emerybooks.com
Box 460279, San Francisco, CA 94146 USA
vince@emery.com Phone 1.415.337.6000
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