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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.”
Tag Archives: Brian Wallace
Hammett: Another Ferris Wheel Caper
If you’re deep into Hammett, you know that he claimed Pinkerton’s Detective Agency once sent him out on an assignment to track down a Ferris wheel stolen from a carnival. Supposedly happened somewhere in Big Sky country, circa 1920. A quote that’s come … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: And Why Not Liam Neeson as Marlowe?
Brian Wallace sends me links to stuff all the time. He’s like my man-on-the-internet-street or an all-knowing stool pigeon or something, tracking down every hardboiled mention or rumor of a hardboiled mention. A reboot or new version of ace P.I. … Continue reading
Hammett: Only $227 mil
Brian Wallace just popped me the news that Sam Spade’s office building in 111 Sutter has sold for a mere 227 million bucks. Makes the sale of Sam Spade’s big cushy armchair for $90,000ish seem like chump change. In addition … Continue reading
Hammett: A Strange Career? You Decide!
Brian Wallace just dropped a link into my Inbox, Anne Diebel in The Paris Review ruminating on Hammett’s career as a writer — and much of it seems to be riffing off Nathan Ward’s bio The Lost Detective. Kind of like … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Chandler and the Great War
Brian Wallace lets me know about news popping in scattered corners of the noir universe. I suspect he thinks I’m too lazy to look for the stuff myself, and if so, he isn’t wrong. For many long years I have operated under the … Continue reading
Posted in Frisco, Lit, News
Tagged Brian Wallace, Literary Plaques, London's blue enamel plaques, Raymond Chandler, The Great War
Mort: Gus Konstin
And Brian Wallace just popped me the sad news from the San Francisco Chronicle that Gus Konstin — owner of John’s Grill — has died. Under Gus’s tenure, the grill set up the various tributes to Hammett, in celebration of … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco, News
Tagged Blackjack Jerome, Brian Wallace, Fondas Ladis, Gus Konstin, John's Grill, San Francisco Chronicle
Hammett: Jesse Sublett on Big Book of the Op
Brian Wallace just sent along a link to a new review of The Big Book of the Continental Op from The Austin Chronicle — worth checking out since it comes from Jesse Sublett, a guy who served in Posse McMillan … Continue reading
Hammett: A Parable for Valentine
An even eighty-eight years ago today Knopf released a little tale of mystery and romance you know by the handle of The Maltese Falcon. Yes, timed for release on Valentine’s Day. Every Valentine’s Day for years now I’ve had to … Continue reading
Hammett: High Ticket
I don’t keep close track, but I am well aware prices on first editions of Hammett’s novels have jumped into the big money — kicked off by the legendary 1981 auction of the Adrian Goldstone crime fiction collection here in … Continue reading
Posted in Dash, Frisco, News
Tagged Adrian Homer Goldstone, Autographs, Black Mask, Book Collecting, Brian Wallace, KoKo Collection, Paul Cain, Poe, Raoul Whitfield, Raymond Chandler, Red Harvest, Terry Zobeck
