Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (1930) is a cornerstone of hardboiled detective fiction, introducing readers to the iconic private investigator Sam Spade. Set in San Francisco, the novel follows Spade as he becomes entangled in a web of deceit, murder, and greed, all centered around a legendary, jewel-encrusted statuette—the titular Maltese Falcon.
The novel opens with the arrival of a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), who hires Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail a man named Floyd Thursby. When both Archer and Thursby are found dead, Spade is thrust into a dangerous pursuit, with the police suspicious of his involvement. Spade soon encounters a cast of enigmatic and treacherous figures, including the effete yet dangerous Joel Cairo, the imposing Kasper Gutman (nicknamed "The Fat Man"), and his volatile associate, Wilmer Cook. Each character is in ruthless pursuit of the Falcon, a long-lost treasure rumored to be worth a fortune.
As Spade navigates the shifting alliances and betrayals of those around him, he remains coolly detached, playing all sides against each other to uncover the truth. His relationship with Brigid is central to the story—she is both seductive and untrustworthy, embodying the novel's themes of deception and moral ambiguity. Despite their attraction, Spade ultimately refuses to let emotions compromise his principles, leading to the novel's famous ending, where he turns Brigid over to the police, declaring his commitment to justice and his own survival.
Hammett's novel is a masterclass in terse, hard-edged prose, filled with sharp dialogue and an unromantic view of human nature. The Maltese Falcon established many of the conventions of the noir genre, influencing generations of crime fiction. The novel's cynical tone, morally complex characters, and relentless pacing make it a timeless classic, epitomizing the gritty realism of early 20th-century detective fiction.
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The novel opens with the arrival of a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), who hires Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail a man named Floyd Thursby. When both Archer and Thursby are found dead, Spade is thrust into a dangerous pursuit, with the police suspicious of his involvement. Spade soon encounters a cast of enigmatic and treacherous figures, including the effete yet dangerous Joel Cairo, the imposing Kasper Gutman (nicknamed "The Fat Man"), and his volatile associate, Wilmer Cook. Each character is in ruthless pursuit of the Falcon, a long-lost treasure rumored to be worth a fortune.
As Spade navigates the shifting alliances and betrayals of those around him, he remains coolly detached, playing all sides against each other to uncover the truth. His relationship with Brigid is central to the story—she is both seductive and untrustworthy, embodying the novel's themes of deception and moral ambiguity. Despite their attraction, Spade ultimately refuses to let emotions compromise his principles, leading to the novel's famous ending, where he turns Brigid over to the police, declaring his commitment to justice and his own survival.
Hammett's novel is a masterclass in terse, hard-edged prose, filled with sharp dialogue and an unromantic view of human nature. The Maltese Falcon established many of the conventions of the noir genre, influencing generations of crime fiction. The novel's cynical tone, morally complex characters, and relentless pacing make it a timeless classic, epitomizing the gritty realism of early 20th-century detective fiction.
The Maltese Falcon
Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon (1930) is a cornerstone of hardboiled detective fiction, introducing readers to the iconic private investigator Sam Spade. Set in San Francisco, the novel follows Spade as he becomes entangled in a web of deceit, murder, and greed, all centered around a legendary, jewel-encrusted statuette—the titular Maltese Falcon.
The novel opens with the arrival of a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), who hires Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail a man named Floyd Thursby. When both Archer and Thursby are found dead, Spade is thrust into a dangerous pursuit, with the police suspicious of his involvement. Spade soon encounters a cast of enigmatic and treacherous figures, including the effete yet dangerous Joel Cairo, the imposing Kasper Gutman (nicknamed "The Fat Man"), and his volatile associate, Wilmer Cook. Each character is in ruthless pursuit of the Falcon, a long-lost treasure rumored to be worth a fortune.
As Spade navigates the shifting alliances and betrayals of those around him, he remains coolly detached, playing all sides against each other to uncover the truth. His relationship with Brigid is central to the story—she is both seductive and untrustworthy, embodying the novel's themes of deception and moral ambiguity. Despite their attraction, Spade ultimately refuses to let emotions compromise his principles, leading to the novel's famous ending, where he turns Brigid over to the police, declaring his commitment to justice and his own survival.
Hammett's novel is a masterclass in terse, hard-edged prose, filled with sharp dialogue and an unromantic view of human nature. The Maltese Falcon established many of the conventions of the noir genre, influencing generations of crime fiction. The novel's cynical tone, morally complex characters, and relentless pacing make it a timeless classic, epitomizing the gritty realism of early 20th-century detective fiction.
The novel opens with the arrival of a mysterious woman, Miss Wonderly (later revealed as Brigid O'Shaughnessy), who hires Spade and his partner, Miles Archer, to trail a man named Floyd Thursby. When both Archer and Thursby are found dead, Spade is thrust into a dangerous pursuit, with the police suspicious of his involvement. Spade soon encounters a cast of enigmatic and treacherous figures, including the effete yet dangerous Joel Cairo, the imposing Kasper Gutman (nicknamed "The Fat Man"), and his volatile associate, Wilmer Cook. Each character is in ruthless pursuit of the Falcon, a long-lost treasure rumored to be worth a fortune.
As Spade navigates the shifting alliances and betrayals of those around him, he remains coolly detached, playing all sides against each other to uncover the truth. His relationship with Brigid is central to the story—she is both seductive and untrustworthy, embodying the novel's themes of deception and moral ambiguity. Despite their attraction, Spade ultimately refuses to let emotions compromise his principles, leading to the novel's famous ending, where he turns Brigid over to the police, declaring his commitment to justice and his own survival.
Hammett's novel is a masterclass in terse, hard-edged prose, filled with sharp dialogue and an unromantic view of human nature. The Maltese Falcon established many of the conventions of the noir genre, influencing generations of crime fiction. The novel's cynical tone, morally complex characters, and relentless pacing make it a timeless classic, epitomizing the gritty realism of early 20th-century detective fiction.
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The Maltese Falcon
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940184638348 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Anthony Bly |
| Publication date: | 02/09/2025 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Sales rank: | 144,444 |
| File size: | 597 KB |
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