OK, so here's another angle. Has anyone else noticed that that some of that
old vintage stuff seems considerably more modern than others?
Case in point: I just finished John D. MacDonald's "The Price of Murder". A
fine read, for sure, but there are certain things in it that dates it just
so badly. Most obvious is the almost bullyish attitude towards women;
according to JDM they need a firm male fist to keep them in line. "That
pretty little wife of yours might benefit greatly if you were to beat her
frequently" one of the characters says at one point -- and that's from one
of the good guys. I mean -- what the hell is that?
Now, compare this to Ed McBain's "The Con Man" which I finished before that.
It's from the same 1957 as JDM's book, yet McBain seems as fresh and
contemporary as if it were written yesterday. What gives? Could someone
explain why McBain's novel seems more contemporary than JDM's? Any other
examples of oldies that seem to be written just a few weeks ago?
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