Raymond Chandler Speaking

Raymond Chandler Speaking is a collection of writings from the noir detective author Raymond Chandler, published in 1962 after his death. The book contains personal letters, essays, notes, and an unfinished novel compiled by Dorothy Gardiner and Kathrine Sorley Walker. The collection features Chandler's correspondence about literature, filmmaking, and his contemporaries in the writing world. Several previously published pieces from The Atlantic Monthly appear alongside unpublished material, including his observations on mystery writing and the differences between English and American literary styles. The book includes "The Poodle Springs Story," Chandler's final Philip Marlowe novel which remained incomplete at his death in 1959. The compilation emerged from a legal dispute over Chandler's estate between his agent Helga Greene and his secretary Jean Fracasse. This intimate collection reveals Chandler's perspectives on writing craft, the publishing industry, and Hollywood's relationship with literature. His direct, unvarnished commentary in these private writings provides context for understanding his published works and his impact on detective fiction.

Readers describe this collection of Chandler's letters and writings as raw and unfiltered, showing his acerbic personality and strong opinions about writing, Hollywood, and the publishing industry. Readers appreciate: - Candid insights into his writing process and philosophy - Behind-the-scenes details about his work in Hollywood - Sharp criticism of other writers and the film industry - Humor and wit in his correspondence - Personal revelations about his struggles with alcohol and depression Common criticisms: - Disorganized, scattered presentation of materials - Some letters lack context - Repetitive complaints and rants - Occasional mean-spirited tone Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (486 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31 ratings) Several readers note the book works better as a reference than a cover-to-cover read. One reviewer called it "like sitting down for drinks with Chandler himself - entertaining but exhausting." Another praised it as "the most honest look at writing craft I've encountered."

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Selected Letters of Dashiell Hammett by Dashiell Hammett The personal correspondence of hard-boiled fiction's founding father shows the development of noir fiction and the publishing industry of the 1920s-1950s.

Writers at Work: The Paris Review Interviews by Malcolm Cowley This compilation captures conversations with writers about their methods, philosophies, and experiences in the literary world during the same era as Chandler.

The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler Chandler's own collected essays and critical writings provide his unfiltered views on detective fiction and the craft of writing.

🔍 Chandler didn't start writing detective fiction until age 44, after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Great Depression. 🎬 His experience in Hollywood was largely negative - he feuded with Billy Wilder while writing "Double Indemnity" and once threw a script out of producer David O. Selznick's window. 📝 "The Poodle Springs Story" was later completed by crime writer Robert B. Parker in 1989, thirty years after Chandler's death. 🐱 Despite his hard-boiled writing style, Chandler was an avid cat lover who wrote detailed letters about his pets, particularly his black Persian called Taki. 🌍 Before becoming a writer, Chandler lived in Europe and worked as a journalist for the Daily Express in London, an experience that influenced his sophisticated writing style.