ABSTRACT
Dashiell Harnrnett (1894-1961) is regarded as one of the masters of detective-story fiction, his speciality being hard-boiled, dialogue-driven noir thrillers in an American urban context. Like many of the authors presented in this volume, Harnrnett tried many occupations before settling on writing. These included messenger boy, news boy clerk, timekeeper, dockworker, machine operator and private detective (for Pinkerton's). The First World War left his health ruined and he took up writing after abrief resumption of detective work. The Dain Curse (1931), The Glass Key (1959), The Maltese Falcon (1930) and Red Harvest (1950) are generally regarded as Hammett's greatest novels.
