Dashiell Hammett: The Library of America Edition: (Two-volume boxed set)

Here’s one of the best, if not the very best, comic private detective mysteries you’ll ever read. Nick and Nora Charles, and their dog Asta, visit New York City for the Christmas and New York holidays at the close of 1932, also the last days of the ill-fated temperance experiment, Prohibition (December 18, 1917 - March 22, 1933, ratification of the 18th and 21st Amendments, respectively). They are there to party, and as Nick likes to say, drink. However, the disappearance of an old client, Clyde Wynant, an eccentric and erratic millionaire inventor, followed by multiple murders, sets them off on finding Wynant and the killer in their midsts. Along the way, they run into an assortment of odd characters, including Wynant family members and a Runyon-esque gallery of rogues.As with most mysteries, it’s less about the mystery itself than it is about the characters and the telling. What distinguishes  The Thin Man  is Hammett’s sharp wit, as expressed by Nick and Nora. What’s more is the copious amounts of alcohol consumed by Nick and Nora. On nearly every page, they busy themselves preparing cocktails, regardless of the time of day. Nick frequently imbibes upon waking before taking his breakfast. Of course, Hammett himself was an alcoholic, a disease that he led to his death.Such a popular novel gave birth to an equally popular film adaptation. While the film departed from the novel in places, it did capture the essence of Nick and Nora, and gave personality to Asta. Once you’ve seen the 1934 film, you’ll find it hard to picture and hear Nick and Nora any differently from William Powell and Myrna Loy. As a matter of fact, it’s probably safe to say that most people will think of Nick himself as the thin man. In fact, the real thin man is Clyde Wynant, but such is the power of the visual association of trim Powell and the film’s title.If you have never read the novel, it comes to you highly recommended, to be followed by a viewing of the 1934 film adaptation. And the best way to watch the film, of course, is with a shaker of Martinis at hand.Here for your viewing pleasure is the film’s trailer and a compilation of Nick and Nora’s drinking exchanges. One thing you’ll notice almost immediately: the serving size of drinks is considerably smaller than what you see today. And everybody dresses to the T. How things have changed in the past eighty years.

I have been a fan of the writings of Sr. Arthur Conan Doyle since childhood and recently added Agatha Christi to my list of favorite authors of fiction. As I considered other writers that perhaps I had not devoted sufficient time to their writings Dashiell Hammett came to mind. Finding all of his work in a two-volume set at an attractive price, I chose his writing and the Library of America editions. I was pleased with both. The Library of America produces quality bindings with quality paper. I enjoyed the 24 short stories and other early writings in volume 1 but enjoyed even more the five novels in the second volume. The Maltese Falcon I remembered from the film version starring Humphrey Bogart that I watched in my early teens but as with many movies made from books, I found the book better than the film. The Thin Man was probably one of my favorite detective or crime fiction novels and after reading the book, I found the movie on Amazon and enjoyed it as well. Once again, the book, in my opinion, was better than the movie. The Dashiell Hammett collection was enjoyable to read and perhaps a little flashback to the days of my youth.

He writes better than Hemingway for sure.I’ve read everything he’s written.VIVID is how I would describe his work !!!

I like to remember the good old days when things just didn't blow up and not all the characters got killed. Oh, the Thin Man!!.

Noir at its absolute best. These two books bring together some of the greatest works of noir that have ever graced this planet. The quality of the books matches the quality of the content. Library of America has done the world a service by publishing this collection, so do yourself a favor and buy these. Also, the price on Amazon is the lowest I have found anywhere.

The best of Hammett in two conveniently-sized volumes. I'm very grateful to the Library of America for making them available in such a useful format, and very economically too when considering how many books and stories are included.

great

A enjoyable edition of Hammett's works!..

J'ai découvert cet auteur après avoir vu "Le faucon maltais" de John Huston. Intriguée, je suis passée à la lecture de ses œuvres , puis devenue une fan inconditionnelle de cet ancien détective privé passé à l'écriture. Deux livres sont réunis dans ce coffret : le premier regroupe les cinq romans de Dashiell Hammett et le second contient essentiellement ses nouvelles policières.J'ai acheté ce volume en anglais pour remplacer mes livres en français que j'avais acquis précédemment.Mes éditions françaises comprenaient: Coups de feu dans la nuit (Omnibus) qui regroupe ses nouvelles, policières ou pas. J'avais beaucoup aimé le volume contenant ses romans chez Quarto Gallimard pour sa nouvelle traduction comparée à l'ancienne traduction datée et vieillotte, mais je n'en ferai pas de commentaires ici, ne l'ayant pas acquis chez Amazon. Pour cet achat, j'étais particulièrement intéressée par les nouvelles policières (et pourtant, je ne suis pas fan outre mesure de romans policiers) ,ne pas avoir les nouvelles complètes ne me dérange donc pas. Mon seul regret : "Nightshade", une nouvelle non policière que j'apprécie beaucoup, n'y figure pas, mais je le savais avant d'acheter le coffret. Le format m'a surprise agréablement : je m'attendais à un format "dictionnaire", or ces deux volumes sont plus petits et plus maniables que je le supposais, avec une couverture solide en carton : un bon point pour cette édition."The library of America", créée en 1979, est une maison d'édition américaine qui publie, au compte-gouttes, les auteurs les plus représentatifs et constitutifs du patrimoine littéraire américain ( ces auteurs qui ponctuent l'histoire de l'Amérique et apportent, depuis la fondation des Etats-Unis, leur pierre à l'édifice ), un peu à l'image de la Pléiade. Dashiell Hammet est l'un des plus récents auteurs à avoir eu les faveurs de cette maison d'édition. C'est une petite révolution dans un milieu qui estime que le genre policier est un peu le parent pauvre de la littérature dite sérieuse.Merci aux autres commentaires qui m'ont permis de me diriger vers ce vendeur basé en Angleterre. Commande effectuée le 7 mai, et reçue le 18, ce qui est particulièrement rapide vu les nombreux ponts du mois de mai. Bien emballé sous plastique, il n'a pas du tout souffert du voyage. Je n'ai pas commencé à le lire, mais pour avoir déjà lu Dashiell Hammett en Anglais, je peux vous affirmer que même avec un petit niveau dans cette langue, on s'en sort très bien. Merci au vendeur très sympa et au marque-page dessiné par un client ! Prix très bas pour ce très beau coffret, je recommande chaudement ce vendeur.

Great presentation! Do not hesitate to give as gift or just to add to personal library. Library of America sets are outstanding. If you like the Hammett, also try LoA’s Raymond Chandler set.

Very Happy. Been trying for ages to get these

Lovely presentation box with all you need from a true original

Very fine!