A riveting collection of five of the most famous crime novels of the
1920s, presenting anew some of the most admired authors of the era--with
insightful annotations by the Edgar-winning anthologist Leslie S.
Klinger.
American crime writing was reborn in the 1920s. After years of dominance
by British authors, new American writers--with fresh ideas about the
detective and the mystery--appeared on the scene and rose to heights of
popularity not witnessed since the success of the Sherlock Holmes tales
in America.
Classic American Crime Writing of the 1920s--including House Without
a Key, The Benson Murder Case, The Roman Hat Mystery, Red
Harvest, and Little Caesar--offers some of the very best of that
decade's writing. Earl Derr Biggers wrote about Charlie Chan, a
Chinese-American detective, at a time when racism was rampant. S. S. Van
Dine invented Philo Vance, an effete, rich amateur psychologist who
flourished while America danced and the stock market rose. The
quintessential American detective Ellery Queen leapt onto the stage, to
remain popular for fifty years. Dashiell Hammett brings readers another
mystery narrated by the Continental Op. W. R. Burnett, created the
indelible character of Rico, the first gangster antihero.
Each of the five novels included is presented in its original published
form, with extensive historical and cultural annotations and
illustrations added by Edgar-winning editor Leslie S. Klinger, allowing
the reader to experience the story to its fullest. Klinger's detailed
foreword gives an overview of the history of American crime writing from
its beginnings in the early years of America to the twentieth century.
This gorgeously illustrated volume includes over 100 color and black and
white images as well as an introduction by the eminent mystery publisher
Otto Penzler.
