Includes bibliographical references (pages [183]-207) and index.
Contents
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 -- Selected Authors' Fictional Works.
Summary
"Crime fiction expert Susanna Lee tracks the evolution of the hard-boiled character type over time and media in the United States. She shows how crime fiction rose in popularity at times of national conflict. Readers and viewers crave the sort of grit and independence that the hard-boiled detective offers when reality may leave them feeling they lack control over their own lives. This is a study of literature and film and also a work of cultural studies"-- Provided by publisher.
