Dashiell Hammett
Writer
Dashiell Hammett is often called the father of the modern American detective story. He was himself a private detective for Pinkerton's before turning to writing at age 28. Many of his subsequent stories featured the Continental Op, a nameless private detective who became the archetype for a generation of hard-boiled mystery story detectives. Among Hammett's best-known novels are The Dain Curse (1929), The Maltese Falcon (1930), and The Thin Man (1932). The hero of The Maltese Falcon, detective Sam Spade, is a famous fictional character and was played by Humphrey Bogart in the film version of the novel. Hammett had a long and feisty love relationship with author Lillian Hellman, which is sometimes blamed for his minimal writing output from 1934 until his death.Hammett is often compared to and linked with hard-boiled writers Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain.
Four Good Links
Dashiell Hammett
Reliable basic background from the Books and Authors site
The Continental Detective Agency
A fan's files on Hammett and his books, plus a good bio of Hellman
Before "The Thin Man"
Salon Magazine recaps Hammett's writing history, razzes Lillian Hellman
Dashiell Hammett
Details of his work and influence, with connections to related essays
Vital Stats
Birth
Birthplace
Death
10 January 1961
(complications from lung cancer, age 66)
Best Known As
The author of "The Maltese Falcon"
