Description
Book SynopsisA century of American history reflected in the iconic private eye. Steadfast in fighting crime, but operating outside the police forceand sometimes even the lawis the private detective. Driven by his own moral code, he is a shadowy figure in a trench coat standing on a street corner, his face most likely obscured by a tilted fedora, a lit cigarette dangling from his hand. The hard-boiled detective is known by his dark past, private pain, and powers of deduction. He only asks questionsnever answers them. In his stories he is both the main character and the narrator. America has had a love affair with the hard-boiled detective since the 1920s, when Prohibition called into question who really stood on the right and wrong side of the law. And nowhere did this hero shine more than in crime fiction. In Detectives in the Shadows, literary and cultural critic Susanna Lee tracks the evolution of this truly American character typefrom Race Williams to Philip Marlowe and from Mike Hammer to J
Trade ReviewOne can say many things about crime fiction, and throughout this thoughtful, well-crafted piece of literary history, Lee succeeds in telling the story straight.
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Library JournalFor detective fiction fans, this will prove an entertaining and informative trip through American history alongside their favorite gumshoes.
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Publisher's WeeklyA revealing critique of a pop culture icon and required reading for mystery buffs.
—Julie Hale,
BookPageTable of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction. A Silhouette
Chapter One. Arriving on the Scene
Chapter Two. A Moral Compass
Chapter Three. A Rugged Individual
Chapter Four. A Lone Wolf
Chapter Five. A Person of Honor
Appendix: Selected Authors' Fictional Works
Notes
Bibliography
Index
