Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s

Leslie S. Klinger, Otto Penzler

$65

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Pegasus
02 October 2018

Anthologies (non-poetry); Fiction & Literature; Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Crime & Mystery

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 colour and black and white images as well as an introduction by the eminent mystery publisher Otto Penzler.

Over 100 colour and black-and-white illustrations.

By: Leslie S. Klinger, Otto Penzler
Imprint: Pegasus
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 262mm, Width: 226mm, Spine: 66mm
Weight: 2.666kg
ISBN: 9781681778617
ISBN 10: 1681778610
Pages: 524
Publication Date: 02 October 2018
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s

This is a big deal. Any fan of crime fiction will grab for it.The restored texts of these five 1920s classics are reason enough to treasure this volume. Add the fascinating notes, illustrations, and historical overview supplied by master-researcher Leslie S. Klinger, along with an insightful introduction from crime-fiction authority Otto Penzler, and the result is a classic of its own, one that I'll return to again and again.--David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author of Murder As a Fine Art The hugely welcome revival of fiction from the Golden Age of detective fiction between the wars is given fresh impetus by Les Klinger's eclectic, attractively produced, and splendidly annotated collection of five American classic mystery novels.--Martin Edwards, Edgar-winning author of Gallows Court and The Golden Age of Murder A treasure chest, packed with gumshoes and dames, Colt-.45s and fedoras, townhouses and locked rooms. Resurrecting long-gone authors and restoring their finest work to the page, this gorgeous volume is indispensable for any mystery enthusiast.--A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window These five novels, all wildly popular when first published, offer a window on the world of manners and attitudes in America in the 1920s. They can still be enjoyed as mysteries, or they can be read as historic documents, enriched by Klinger's copious annotations that help fix each in its time and place. A veritable buffet of food for thought for crime fiction fans.