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About DonHerron.com
In 1977 Don Herron began leading The Dashiell Hammett Tour, now the longest-running literary tour in the nation. On this site you’ll find information on current walks — dates, where to meet, arranging tours by appointment — plus a hard-boiled blog with news, reviews of books and film, and a dash of noir.
The latest and greatest edition to self-guide you up and down the mean streets.
Willeford: The Book
Includes the first “Mr. Hunt” story, “Knives in the Dark.”
Search Results for: "fly paper"
Rediscovered: “Fly Paper” in EQMM
I noticed in passing this shot of a newsstand — from 1942, it turns out — on James Reasoner’s blog, but Andy Bienstock from Baltimore brought to my attention that I needed to hop over to the Shorpy site where … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco, News, Tour
Tagged "Fly Paper", Andy Bienstock, Baltimore, EQMM, James Reasoner, Pulps, Shorpy
Hammett: Kidnappings in “Death and Company”
Once upon a time I rated “Death and Company” as one of the lesser and least interesting Op stories. Then Terry Zobeck dug up missing lines from the pure text, which led me to a sudden revelation, bumping “Death Co” from … Continue reading
Hammett: Before Dannay. . .
Our frequent Guest Blogger Terry Zobeck returns with a fresh discovery in his investigation into how Frederic Dannay edited Hammett’s short stories for paperback publication, decades ago. Hey, you jump into the pool, you can dive deeper — and deeper. Take it, … Continue reading
Hammett: More Dumas, père
Recent posts on the idea of influence of the senior Alexandre Dumas on Hammett and the poisoning motif from The Count of Monte Cristo surfacing in the story “Fly Paper” reminded my good pal Jiro Kimura of something he noticed a … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Lit, News
Tagged "Fly Paper", Alexandre Dumas, Babe McCloor, Jiro Kimura, Joe Gores, pure texts, Spade & Archer, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Maltese Falcon Society
Hammett: The Ripper
On the tour I sometimes use the 1929 story “Fly Paper” for a quick introduction to the Continental Op stories, always getting into the Op’s showdown with the gangster Babe McCloor. I always mention the fact of arsenic poisoning being a key … Continue reading
Hammett: Playing the Sap
Take out your copy of Jo Hammett’s Dashiell Hammett: A Daughter Remembers. Turn to page 34. We’re going to be dealing with the bottom photo on that page. If you don’t have a copy of the book, this post spotlights a … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco
Tagged "Fly Paper", Black Mask, Jack Black, Jo Hammett, Morning Call, Pinkerton's, Raymond Chandler, The Big Knockover, William S. Burroughs, You Can't Win
