Hi Vince,
In your review of Diane Johnson's book about Hammett, you wrote: "If you read this, be sure to read Johnson's article about how Hellman interfered with and changed the biography."
Do you have a bit more information? What was its title? Where was it published? Is it available online?
Thanks,Mark
> To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
> From: vince@emery.com
> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 10:33:54 -0700
> Subject: RARA-AVIS: William Nolan's Hammett: A Casebook + Ross Macdonald
>
> 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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>
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>
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