May / Detective Reading: The Maltese Falcon

Scher - I think I started off like you: I recoiled from the treatment of women then realised it was a 21st century PC knee-jerk reaction, looked back at the date of publication and that, together with how most of the early posters mentioned the film not the book, got me thinking about silent films/talkies and the book seemed to slot into place for me. I can't say it was a book that I enjoyed - I found the style irritating and dated, though it has made me want to go on and read a Raymond Chandler as I understand he was also writing for Black Mask magazine at the same time as Hammett and was influenced by him. I haven't voted on the poll because I don't feel a simple 'Yes I liked it' or 'No, I didn't like it' actually says much about the book or any book, come to that - it says more about what kind of book I personally like which is probably only understandable to people who know me personally. As we were looking at the book as an example of its genre (and Detective Fiction is a genre I do enjoy and have read quite extensively) I thought it might generate some discussion if I put down my thoughts from that aspect.

Jozy - no hurry, but if you could expand on your thoughts when you have time, I'd appreciate it. What a busy life you lead!

I keep telling you people--the Continental Op is the one to study. Sam Spade can't hold a candle to him. Red Harvest is so much more interesting then Spade who must be a close cousin of James Bond in the use of women and mission statements.

Alas, kasie, I meant it as a personal criticism, my war between me and surfing and online socializing, my work, public housing frustration. It gets worse with age, and I am making a concerted effort to stop smoking. On top of that...well, maybe I'm becoming a failed writer.

Anyway, on another day maybe I'd be happy to waltz on Sam Spade. I'd add: Hammett doesn't have to be read that deeply. He isn't Borges. But there is stuff :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mtpspur

I keep telling you people--the Continental Op is the one to study. Sam Spade can't hold a candle to him. Red Harvest is so much more interesting then Spade who must be a close cousin of James Bond in the use of women and mission statements.

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Oh really. I think I have that somewhere in my basement unread. Perhaps next year I will give it a try.

To any one who want a TASTE of Hammett's The Continental Op some must reads would be Dead Yellow Women, Fly Paper, The Gutting of Conffignal, novel Red Harvest, The House in Turk Street, and The Girl with Silver Eyes--for starters--at least these were some of MY favorites.

It's no secret that I adore the Continetal Op and disdain Sam Spade the 'character' with even more dislike for Nick Charles but I agree with one biographer of Hammett's that the three characters reveal Hammett's distancing himself from the genre and characters by showing the decline of the private detective The Op---cool professional who tries very hard to maintain a code of honor (within the limtations of the work), Spade (starting a walk to the dark side--could flip either way, and Charels--pretty much gave it all up as meaningless and unfulfilling--The Thin Man was tedious to work through. Hammett's place is secure in the detective field but time and disatnce does seem to give him an dated feel to him. I salute Raymond Chandler as the more literate writer but prefer the middle ground of John K. Butler and Frederick Nebel (both in great need of more reprints).

In terms of treatment of women I assumed The Maltese Falcon was akin to rap videos of the 90's.

Mary Astor as the girl Bogart sends over. Humphrey, as Sam Spade, shows that short men can wear doublebreasted suits. Peter Lorre is great as the obviously gay Joel Cairo. Sydney Greenstreet is aptly named as Gutman. The Gunsel is Elisha Cook Jr., who died not too long ago. He was in his 80s. Definitely Dashiel Hammett at his best.