Crime Fiction in the Library Of America

[Lisa Krause]

Good evening,

I am writing a paper on Raymond Chandler's "The Long Good-Bye".
To have a nice opener, I want to state the fact that he is allegedly the first mystery or crime fiction writer to be included in the hall of fame of the Library of America.
(source: https://www.nytimes.com/books/97/06/22/reviews/970622.22lewist.html and also found this statement in a book)
Edit: In 1995.

I am wondering, though, if Poe would be considered a mystery writer because according to wikipedia, the LOA published a volume of "Poetry And Tales" in 1982. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_America)

Is "Chandler was the first writer of crime fiction that this honour was bestowed upon" still legit?

Thank you in advance.

Lisa

[MANICHAEAN]

Chandler was heavily influenced by Dashiell Hammett. In fact he once wrote that he (DH) " gave murder back to the people who really committed it."

[Lisa Krause]

Thank you for the reply.
I know that. Dashiell Hammett was published by the LOA later than Chandler, though.
I guess the reason the article states it like this is the fact that Chandler was considered a mere crime author, unlike Poe.