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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.”
Monthly Archives: September 2021
Hammett: “The Judge Laughed Last”
A decade ago Terry Zobeck did the pure text treatment on the minor Hammett yarn “The Judge Laughed Last” — originally published in 1924 in Black Mask as “The New Racket” — but Evan Lewis has sleuthed out a good … Continue reading
Posted in Dash
Tagged "The Judge Laughed Last", "The New Racket", Black Mask, Evan Lewis, Terry Zobeck
Mort: Bill Arney
It’s a sad day in Sam Spade’s San Francisco. Got a note from Mike Humbert last night to inform me that Bill Arney died yesterday morning, September 28 2021. As of now, I don’t know what got him. I’m kicking … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco, News, Tour
Tagged 891 Post, Bill Arney, Hammett Cult in San Francisco, Mike Humbert
Rediscovered: More Starrett and a Williamson — Plus a Margo
Awhile back I was chatting with Brian Leno about the great Chicago bookman Vincent Starrett, and mentioned that my preferred state for his Books About Books would be to have a copy (in jacket, nice condition, and so on) inscribed … Continue reading
Posted in Frisco, Lit
Tagged Autographs, Book Collecting, Brian Leno, J. N. Williamson, Margo Skinner, Reign of Fear, Stuart Schiff, Vincent Starrett, Whispers
Rediscovered: Yet Another Tidbit of Starrett and Sherlock
Autograph Hound Super-Sunday once more, and Brian Leno drags out yet another recent purchase for you to eyeball — with the backstory of how he got put on the scent. John Hancock fans, the game’s afoot: I picked up another … Continue reading
Posted in Lit
Tagged Autographs, Brian Leno, Grady Hendrix, J. N. Williamson, Sherlock Holmes, Stuart Schiff, Vincent Starrett, Whispers
Frisco Beat: The Bacall Hideout
Remember that time Bogie escaped from San Quentin and was on the lam? Made his way into San Francisco and had his face touched-up by a back-alley plastic surgeon? Holed up for awhile with Lauren Bacall in a swank apartment … Continue reading
Rediscovered: A Bradbury Footnote
The noted book and pulp collector Kevin Cook comments on the Ray Bradbury autographs that have shown up recently on the blog: “I can tell you that he was signing books the same way since the 1950s. “I have dated … Continue reading