The renowned novel from crime fiction master Raymond Chandler, with the "quintessential urban private eye" (Los Angeles Times), Philip Marlowe • Featuring the iconic character that inspired the film Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson. In noir master Raymond Chandler's The Little Sister, a movie starlet with a gangster boyfriend and a pair of siblings with a shared secret lure private eye Philip Marlowe into the less than glamorous and more than a little dangerous world of Hollywood fame. Chandler's first foray into the industry that dominates the company town that is Los Angeles.

Tough-minded and typically idiosyncratic, here is Chandler on Chandler, the mystery novel, writing, Hollywood, TV, publishing, cats, and famous crimes. This skillfully edited selection of letters, articles, and notes also includes the short story "A Couple of Writers" and the first chapters of Chandler's last Philip Marlowe novel, The Poodle Springs Story, left unfinished at his death. Paul Skenazy has provided a new introduction for this edition as well as a new selected bibliography. --Publisher description.

It started with some business about a rare coin. Everybody knew who had stolen it, but nobody was anxious to do anything about it. Marlowe couldn’t understand why the old lady had hired him; she didn’t seem to like detectives and she didn’t want to tell him much. So he started to think about her, and then about the pale, fragile, frightened little girl who was her secretary, and then about her son_ which led him to the gambler, and then to the gambler’s luscious and lustful wife, and then to the elegant blackmailer. And so this case became a study of character, for even when murder was done, even after the second murder, character was the root of everything. Because he understood that, Marlowe went step by step to a solution of the case. Sardonic, quietly cynical, cold and merciless when he has to be, but gruffly compassionate toward the victims of evil, Marlowe steps out of these scintillating pages as one of the great detectives of modem murder-mystery fiction.

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME • The renowned novel from crime fiction master Raymond Chandler, with the "quintessential urban private eye" (Los Angeles Times), Philip Marlowe • Featuring the iconic character that inspired the film Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson. In noir master Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye, Philip Marlowe befriends a down on his luck war veteran with the scars to prove it. Then he finds out that Terry Lennox has a very wealthy nymphomaniac wife, whom he divorced and remarried and who ends up dead. And now Lennox is on the lam and the cops and a crazy gangster are after Marlowe.

The Big Sleep and (1939 and ) is a hardboiled crime novel by Raymond Chandler, the first to feature the detective Philip Marlowe. It has been adapted for film twice, in 1946 and again in 1978. The story is set in Los Angeles. The story is noted for its complexity, with characters double-crossing one another and secrets being exposed throughout the narrative. The title is a euphemism for death; the final pages of the book refer to a rumination about "sleeping the big sleep". In 1999, the book was voted 96th of Le Monde and 's "100 Books of the Century". In 2005, it was included in Time magazine and 's "List of the 100 Best Novels".

Raymond Chandler's 'The Simple Art of Murder' is an iconic piece that encapsulates the essence of hardboiled detective fiction, a genre that Chandler himself helped pioneer and define. The collection, comprising a seminal essay and a selection of short stories, exhibits Chandler's mastery of tight prose, sharp dialogue, and complex characters struggling within a morally ambiguous world. The essay, which shares the book's title, critiques the detective fiction of Chandler's time, establishing a literary manifesto for realism and depth in a genre often belittled for its formulaic tendencies. His short stories, replete with the moody atmospherics of Los Angeles, showcase the gritty underbelly of urban life and the sardonic charm of Chandler's most enduring creation, the private eye Philip Marlowe, within the literary context of mid-20th century America. Raymond Chandler, born in 1888, was a titan of twentieth-century American literature whose work was deeply influenced by his experiences in the oil industry and the fragmentary nature of his early life, which saw him moving between America and England. This transatlantic upbringing gave him a unique perspective on American society, a perspective that is keenly observed in his writings. His time in the seedy underbelly of booming Californian cities provided the authentic, lived-in feel to his fiction, and his acerbic wit lent a voice to characters who were at once cynical and remarkably human. In 'The Simple Art of Murder', Chandler not only crafts compelling narratives but also lays down his artistic creed, delineating a vision for a more robust, candid approach to detective fiction. The Simple Art of Murder' is recommended for readers who appreciate detective stories that transcend their plot twists to offer sharp social commentary and rich character studies. Chandler's works are not simply crimes to be solved; they are explorations of the human condition, as relevant today as when they first captivated readers. For both aficionados of the noir genre and newcomers, Chandler's insights and stylistic brilliance provide an engaging, thoughtful read, and 'The Simple Art of Murder' remains a cornerstone collection for those seeking to understand the underpinnings of modern crime fiction.

The renowned novel from crime fiction master Raymond Chandler, with the "quintessential urban private eye" (Los Angeles Times), Philip Marlowe • Featuring the iconic character that inspired the film Marlowe, starring Liam Neeson. Philip Marlowe's about to give up on a completely routine case when he finds himself in the wrong place at the right time to get caught up in a murder that leads to a ring of jewel thieves, another murder, a fortune-teller, a couple more murders, and more corruption than your average graveyard.

These papers brings together the correspondence and other previously uncollected writing of America's undisputed master of crime fiction and creator of the iconic private eye Phillip Marlowe, revealing aspects of the artist's powerful personality and broad intellectual curiosity. "For the Chandler fan, "The Raymond Chandler Papers" ... is a treasure-trove."--David Lehman, The "New York Times Book Review"

In 'Farewell, My Lovely,' Raymond Chandler crafts a neo-noir masterpiece that delves deep into the labyrinthine underbelly of Los Angeles in the 1940s. The narrative follows private detective Philip Marlowe, whose dogged pursuit of a former convict named Moose Malloy leads him through a haze of corrupt characters and gritty encounters. Chandler's trademark hardboiled prose is infused with vivid imagery, while his sharp dialogue captures the cynicism of a post-war America grappling with disillusionment. The novel is not just a crime story; it is a profound exploration of identity, morality, and the human condition, built against the backdrop of a city that itself becomes a character in the tale. Raymond Chandler, a pivotal figure in American crime fiction, was shaped by his diverse experiences, including his stint in the oil industry and a brief career in Hollywood screenwriting. These influences permeate his work, lending authenticity to his richly drawn characters and complex plots. Chandler's ability to articulate the complexities of human experience through the lens of noir has established him as a seminal voice in literature. 'Farewell, My Lovely,' originally published in 1940, solidified Marlowe as an enduring symbol of the hardboiled detective archetype. This book is a must-read for aficionados of crime fiction and those interested in English literature's evolution. Chandler's innovative blend of suspense and philosophical musings challenges readers to contemplate the darker sides of human nature while reveling in the elegance of his prose. 'Farewell, My Lovely' is more than just a detective novel; it is a profound commentary on the era's societal angst, making it an indispensable addition to any literary collection.